Distance Education in India for Engineering

It is the name only that is “distance”, but the education and its level are competent to the regular courses, and more at ease.

Difference Between Correspondence Course & Distance Education

A correspondence course includes registering yourself in one and then getting print lecture note by post. No difference in regular and correspondence student in terms of exams, content or course, except of not attending the classes physically.

In distance education, the study material is exclusively designed to behave as a substitute to the real lecturer. An online learning is involved which includes video tutorials, feedback mechanism, submitting of assignments via mail & getting grades by the assigned faculty. But, the exams are to be given by the procedure applicable to a regular student, and so does a DE student get the degree in the same respect to which a regular student gets.

To provide distance learning education, there are several open universities at national and state level. There are also universities that provide both modes of education i.e. regular and distance.

Most Important Concept That You should not ignore while choosing University/Courses

The university must be UGC recognized, and the distance education programmes offered by the university and/or institution must be DEC recognized. UGC have set up various autonomous centres for different areas and one of them is NACC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). Assessment is a performance evaluation of an institution and /or its units and is accomplished through a process based on self-study and peer review using defined criteria. Accreditation refers to the certification given by NAAC which is valid for a period of five years. At present the Assessment and Accreditation by NAAC is done on a voluntary basis.

Points to be considered while applying to any such universities

1. Is the university recognized by DEC (Distance Education Council)? More at http://www.dec.ac.in/. Is that recognition provisional or has got continual recognition and up to what period? Distance Education Engineering degree of DEC approved university is equivalent to regular university degree.

2. The branch you want to opt for is available or not in the Open University or institution affiliated to an open university recognized by DEC.

3. Does that university provide correspondence or distance learning course.

4. The quality and modes of the study material, the tutorials, lab/library support, the faculty experience and availability hours, the available study centre’s, assignments and project work submissions, placement support, audio visual learning aids, and e-learning facilities.

5. Ease of examination- The university should offer them to take the test as per their convenience and schedule. It provides flexibility to decide the dates for exam and even the test centres. Nowadays, students prefer to take online test as it gives them flexibility to give test from anywhere.

6. Cost of the programme.

7. Promptness in response- the way institution attempts to guide you towards a particular programme communicates a lot about the nature of the college.

8. If possible communicate with the alumni of that particular Open University to give feedback and share experience.

Distance Education Advantages

1. Live anywhere and study from anywhere.

2. No transportation and living cost (esp. if u are not a day boarder).

3. Classes at your convenience.

4. Self-paced learning mainly for slow and quick learners that provides more satisfaction.

5. Accessibility for those with restricted mobility (e.g., handicapped, injured, etc) and with family responsibilities.

6. Flexibility for those with irregular work schedules.

Distance Education Disadvantages

1. Technological Issues-Live video communication e.g., requires careful planning of the equipment and facilities. For online learning, you must own a computer (possibly with access to the internet) or have access to one. Thus required technology is not always available.

2. Still have to meet the deadlines.

3. Distance learning does not offer immediate feedback.

4. Distance learning may not be acknowledged by all employers- if you are a company specific, then find out whether that company recognizes distance education degree.

5. Social isolation- Most often you’ll be studying alone. Distance learners may feel isolated or miss that social physical interaction that comes with attending a traditional classroom. This is being minimized.

Distance Education Universities Providing Engineering courses are-

1. IGNOU – Indira Gandhi National Open University at Delhi/NCR
B.Tech degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering,
Electronics and Communication Engineering,  Computer Science and Engineering.

2. Andhra University Distance Education at Vishakhapatnam
B.E. in Civil Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Electronics &
Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and B.Tech in Chemical
Engineering.

3. JNTU Distance Education at Hyderabad,AP
B.Tech in Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics
Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil
Engineering.

4. Thapar University Distance Education at Patiala
B.Tech in Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering,
Mechanical Engineering.

5. PTU’S Gian Jyoti School of TQM & Entrepreneurship at Mohali
B.Tech. Programme with a specialization in TQM

6. Rai University Distance Education at Delhi/NCR
B.Tech in Electronics and Communication), Mechanical Engineering