Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a transformative initiative in higher education designed to make quality learning accessible, affordable, and flexible for all learners. MOOCs enable students and faculty to engage with global knowledge networks, facilitating self-paced, interdisciplinary, and lifelong learning in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Digital India Mission.

The institution recognizes MOOCs as a valuable tool for enhancing academic learning, skill development, and employability, while also fostering a culture of continuous professional and personal growth.

Objective

• Democratize access to education by providing open access to quality online learning resources.
• Facilitate lifelong learning and upskilling through flexible, technology-enabled education.
• Promote career development by allowing learners to acquire industry-relevant skills and certifications.
• Integrate MOOCs into the institutional academic framework to complement traditional classroom learning.
• Encourage credit transfer and recognition of MOOC-based learning as per UGC, AICTE, and university norms.

Policy Guidelines

Course Providers

• MOOCs are offered through various national and international platforms such as SWAYAM, NPTEL, Coursera, edX, Udemy and FutureLearn.
• Service providers typically offer courses free of cost for learning (open access mode).
• A nominal fee is charged only for the proctored examination and certification services.

Course Access and Participation

• Students and faculty can freely access MOOC content including lectures, videos, readings, assignments and quizzes on respective platforms.
• The institution encourages students to register for relevant MOOCs that supplement their curriculum or develop interdisciplinary competencies.
• Faculty members may act as mentors to guide students in selecting suitable MOOCs and tracking progress.

The following measures shall be implemented in the college to promote the adoption of MOOCs among faculty and students.

• A Coordinator shall be assigned to liason with NPTEL.
• The coordinator is responsible for making all the communications with NPTEL and learners with the consent of Principal.
• The coordinator will be receiving mails from NPTEL regarding the starting dates of the courses and it is his/her responsibility to intimate the same to Deans, HoDs and Mentors. The coordinator shall prepare the slides containing the information like course name, duration, registration deadline, date of commencement, Date of the registration for examination, date of examination etc. and may circulate among faculty and students groups. A copy should be published in the Notice Board also.
• Mentors should inform their respective classes about the relevance of the course and other information pertaining to the course, immediately after receiving the mail from the coordinator. Mentors should encourage the students to register for the course. Mentors shall take the help of other faculty members or HoDs to talk about the relevance of the course, if required.
• HoDs should ensure that, mentors are communicating with students about the course. Also he/she should ensure that, it is communicated to all the faculty members in the department.
• If students find any difficulty in registering for the course or examination, they shall approach the coordinator and it is his/her responsibility to communicate the same to NPTEL and sort out the issue in time.
• Mentors should talk about the importance of MOOC courses and impact of doing such courses in career prospects, in the class committee meetings and PTA meetings.
• Appreciation should be given to students and faculty members who register for MOOC. .

Certification and Evaluation

• Learners receive certificates of completion upon fulfilling the course requirements such as attending online sessions and completing assignments/quizzes.
• For credit-based courses, evaluation shall follow the accepted and approved formats in alignment with Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) or any framework mandated by UGC, AICTE, or the affiliating university (KTU).
• Certification is awarded only after successful completion of a term/semester-end proctored examination, which may be conducted:
  • At the institution’s computer lab or
  • At a designated exam center approved by the MOOC platform or its examination partner.
• The final score shall include contributions from online assignments, quizzes, and proctored exam performance, as prescribed by the respective MOOC platform.

Credit Transfer and Academic Recognition

• Credits earned through approved MOOC platforms shall be recognized and transferred to the student’s academic record, subject to the approval of the affiliating university and regulatory bodies.
• The number of credits awarded shall correspond to the duration and rigor of the course (e.g., 4-week, 8-week, or 12-week modules).
• Students shall submit their course completion certificates to the Department Coordinator for verification and credit processing.

Institutional Facilitation

• The institution shall encourage the establishment of a MOOC Cell or integrate the responsibility within the NPTEL Local Chapter to promote and monitor MOOC participation.
• Departments shall maintain a repository of recommended MOOCs aligned with their programs and course outcomes.
• Faculty members shall be encouraged to:
  • Incorporate relevant MOOC content into their courses.
  • Develop blended learning models combining classroom teaching with MOOC-based resources.
  • Pursue MOOCs for continuous faculty development and pedagogy enhancement.

Monitoring and Quality Assurance

• Each department shall maintain records of student and faculty participation, performance, and certification in MOOCs.
• The Department Coordinator shall submit consolidated reports to the IQAC each semester.
• The IQAC shall periodically review the effectiveness, credit recognition, and alignment of MOOCs with institutional learning outcomes. 

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced student learning through exposure to diverse pedagogical approaches and global expertise.
• Development of independent learning habits and digital competencies among students and faculty.
• Integration of interdisciplinary and emerging technologies into academic learning.
• Improved employability and career readiness through skill-based online certifications.
• Contribution to the institutional mission of promoting innovation, quality education, and lifelong learning.

Review and Continuous Improvement

• This policy shall be reviewed annually by the IQAC in coordination with the Academic Council and Department Coordinators.
• Feedback from students, faculty, and industry stakeholders shall be used to identify relevant MOOCs and improve institutional facilitation mechanisms.
• Updates will be made periodically to align with regulatory changes and evolving MOOC frameworks.