DU’s Open Learning Campus introduces job-oriented courses after 28 years | Biden News

The changing dynamics of the employment sector has forced Campus Open Learning, Delhi University (COL DU) to introduce six new courses from the new school year. The course is starting to commemorate the jubilee year of the COL DU diamond, after a gap of 28 years.

On why job-oriented courses are being introduced now, Janmejoy Khuntia, COL professor and former member of the academic board said, “The Open Learning School at DU was founded in 1962 and was the first open learning institution in India. It was upgraded to a campus status of a college. With these improvements , The Open Learning Campus has got the legal power and responsibility to add new age courses in the curriculum and therefore the campus has introduced six new courses now”.

“For the first time in the history of DU several management and other professional courses have been started at COL DU, for both UG and PG students. These courses will enhance students’ employability and help them take strategic decisions,” said Yogesh Singhvice chancellor, DU.

New courses include Bachelor of Business Administration: Financial Investment Analysis (BFIA), Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Economics. At the postgraduate level, the study programs launched are Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLISc) and Master of Library and Information Science (MLISc).

Traditional courses offered at SOL until now include Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) English, Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Political Science, Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.), Master of Arts (Hindi), Master of Arts (History), Master of Arts (Sanskrit).

How unique is the newly launched course?
“Courses that already exist at COL do award degrees but these degrees have limited value in the job market,” said Payal Mago, director, COL DU. “The newly launched courses will increase the chances of getting placements as companies will come to campus looking for qualified candidates in economics, management and finance. COL has a placement cell, which will be upgraded to manage placement of candidates under this new course,” he added.

Program structure
COL will follow the same syllabus as the existing MBA at the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi. The course structure is the same as the one in IIMS, explained Mago. BFIA and BMS are four-year undergraduate programs in finance and management with several exit options.

“DU Economics Hons flagship program is one of the most sought after in India. This multi-disciplinary program in social sciences combines subjects such as economics, statistics, mathematics, sociology, anthropology, commerce and business, policy making, etc. Students who cannot be admitted to various DU colleges to study economics will now have that opportunity in COL with the same course structure and syllabus,” notes Prof Khuntia. “BLISc is a one-year postgraduate program and will offer students exploring opportunities in Library and Information Science. This course will help in getting jobs in archives, museums, ministries requiring documentation services, digital and knowledge industries, and online education programs,” he explained.

“Students will be able to attend physical classes on campus. They will also have the option to access study materials prepared by competent teaching staff,” said Prof Khuntia. “COL will also upload audio-video materials on its website for students. The curriculum has been designed according to global standards and also includes internships, industry training, interaction with industry leaders, etc,” he said.