SWAYAM Outreach Workshop for the States of Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand organized by KISS-DU

The SWAYAM Outreach Workshop on Integration and Implementation of SWAYAM Courses in Universities and Their Affiliated Colleges for the states of Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand was held on February 7, 2025, at KISS University, Bhubaneswar. Organized by KISS DU in collaboration with the Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha, the event provided an invaluable platform for educators, administrators, and experts from various educational institutions to gather and share insights on India’s evolving digital learning landscape. The workshop aimed to enhance awareness and understanding of the SWAYAM platform and its integration into the academic curriculum, offering an opportunity for universities to embrace the future of education through digital interventions. It highlighted key initiatives by the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC) that drive the digital transformation in higher education. Speakers discussed the opportunities and challenges in embedding online courses, integrating digital tools into curricula, and empowering students with industry-relevant skills.

Distinguished guests during the inaugural present on the dais included Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera (Vice Chancellor, KISS DU), Dr Prashanta Kumar Routray (Registrar, KISS), Prof. Saranjit Singh (Vice Chancellor, KIIT DU), and Dr Avichal Raj Kapur (Joint Secretary, UGC) and Prof. Jyana Ranjan Mohanty.

Prof. Behera warmly welcomed all delegates and introduced the SWAYAM platform, emphasizing its impact on fostering lifelong learning and collaborative engagement, especially for underprivileged students. He highlighted that over 1,200 students at KISS DU are already enrolled in SWAYAM courses, aligning with the UGC SWAYAM Regulations 2021.

Shri Kali Prasanna Mohapatra IAS, Director of Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha, discussed the need for synchronization between the National Education Policy (NEP) and the evolving educational requirements of India’s population. He praised SWAYAM for its transformative shift from traditional classroom-based learning to digital education and emphasized its importance for accessibility and inclusive learning.

Dr. Avichal Raj Kapur, Joint Secretary of UGC, stressed the importance of collaboration and resource-sharing across institutions to remain competitive and highlighted four significant global developments shaping the future of education: the NEP 2020, the G20 Summit, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Future of Jobs Report (Jan 2025). He stressed integrating digital courses into university curricula to accommodate India’s growing student population.

Shri Rohit Tripathy, Deputy Secretary for Technology Enabled Learning, Government of India, provided an overview of the Ministry’s digital interventions in higher education, focusing on initiatives like the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and Samarth eGov.

Prof. Saranjit Singh addressed the evolving balance between analog and digital education and emphasized the opportunities in digital learning, particularly in developing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

In the 1^st technical session, Dr. Avichal Raj Kapur presented key developments to enhance the adoption and implementation of MOOCs through SWAYAM, introducing frameworks and guidelines for universities to conduct SWAYAM examinations.

Prof. R. Sarathi from IIT Madras introduced SWAYAM Plus, a skill-based learning initiative designed to bridge the gap between traditional academic curricula and industry requirements.

During the 2^nd technical session, Shri Rohit Tripathy’s presentation highlighted the significant impact of the SWAYAM platform in transforming higher education, with over 14,750 courses developed and more than 5 crore enrollments.

Dr. Jayakrishnan M, Senior Scientist at NPTEL, IIT Madras, demonstrated the SWAYAM University Dashboard and guided participants through its effective use for better planning and course management. The question-and-answer session and experience sharing by faculty and students were also very practical.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Atul Nag, Nodal Officer, SWAYAM Outreach Workshop & SWAYAM, KISS-DU, who emphasized the importance of upskilling and integrating SWAYAM into academic programs. Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar, KISS-DU delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants, speakers, and organisers for their contributions to the workshop’s success.

The event facilitated a rich exchange of ideas on digital education, ensuring a lasting impact on the academic community.