REPORT ON THE VISIT TO THE BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE (BITS), PILANI, REGARDING INTRODUCTION OF THE OFF-CAMPUS DISTANCE LEARNING AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMES IN JAMIA HAMDARD ON 14.5.2003. 

I visited the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan along with the Assistant Registrar (Academic)  to discuss the proposal to start the off-campus distance learning and collaborative programmes in Jamia Hamdard. BITS is also a Deemed University which offers courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level in engineering, pharmacy and basic sciences and also applied sciences.  BITS does not take any financial assistance from the government for its non-plan expenditure.  It is managed by a Trust established by the Birla Group. BITS is offering  a number of programmes outside their main campus.  The programmes are divided into following two categories: 

A.  Off Campus Collaborative Programmes:  These progammes  are offered by BITS at its various centers in India in collaboration with reputed institutions.  The details of these programmes are as under: 

1.   First Level Diploma in Nautical Sciences and  B.S. Marine Engineering:  

First Level Diploma in Nautical Sciences of 3 semesters and B.S. Marine Engineering of 8 semesters Programmes are conducted in collaboration with Tolani Education Foundation, Mumbai.  Tolani Education Foundation is one of the country’s most reputed organizations and offer courses in shipping and marine engineering. 

2. B.S. Industrial Engineering and Technology:

This 6 semesters Programme is offered in collaboration with Ashok Leyland, Chennai and Hosur for their sponsored employees. 

3. B.S. Manufacturing Engineering:

This 6 semesters Programme is conducted for sponsored employees of Ford India Limited, Chennai. 

4. B.S. Optahlmic Assistant:

This 8 semester course is offered in collaboration with Medical Research Foundation (MRF), Chennai.  Candidates to this Course are selected on the basis of entrance examination and interview. 

5. B.S. Optometry:

It is a 8 semester Programme and is offered at Chennai and Hyderabad in collaboration with Shankara Nethralaya, Chennai  and L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad.  Candidates are admitted to this Course through entrance examination and interview. 

6. B.S. Physician Assistant:

This  8 semesters Course is offered in collaboration with Madras Medical Mission and Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases, Chennai.  Candidates are selected through entrance examination and interview. 

7. B.S. Power Engineering:

This 6 semesters Programme is offered in collaboration with the National Thermal Power Corporation and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, Chennai for their sponsored employees. 

8. B.S. Process Engineering:

This 6 semesters course is conducted for the sponsored employees of Grasim, Nagda,  Indogulf Corporation Limited, Jagdishpur and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited. 

9. M. Sc. (Tech.) Pharmaceutical Chemistry:

This postgraduate level course of 6 semesters is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited, Hyderabad for their sponsored employees. 

10. M.E. (Collaborative) Project Engineering:

This programme of 6 semesters is offered for the employees of Development Consultants Pvt. Limited, Calcutta. 

11. MS. Chemical Technology:

It is a 6 semester programme and designed for the employees of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad. 

12. MS. Consciousness Studies:

This programme of 4 semesters is offered in collaboration with Bhakthivedanta Instituted, Mumbai located in a temple.  This programme is conducted for eligible candidates. 

13. MS. Consultancy Management:

It is a 4 semesters programme and meant for employed professionals working in consultancy and business organizations.   This programme is offered in collaboration with Consultancy Development Centre, New Delhi.

14. M.S. e-Business:

This 4 semesters course is conducted for the sponsored employees of Cognizant Technology Solutions India Ltd. Chennai.  It is a world leading IT company. 

15. M.S. Engineering Management:

This course of 4 semesters is offered for the sponsored employees of Ashok Leyland, Chennai. 

16. M.S. Industrial Production and Management:

It is 4 semesters course and is conducted for the sponsored employees of Grasim, Nagda. 

17. M.S. Management System:

This 4 semesters programme is offered in collaboration with SPIC, Chennai for employed professionals.  Candidates are admitted to this programme through an entrance examination and interview. 

18. M.S. Medical Laboratory Technology:

This 6 semesters course is offered in collaboration with Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.  This course is also open to all and candidates are selected through an entrance examination and interview. 

19. M.S. Microelectronics:

This course is offered at Bangalore in collaboration with Texas Instruments, Wipro Technologies and Tata Elxsi for their sponsored employees.   

20. M.S. Pharmaceutical Operations and Management:

This 4 semesters programme is conducted for the sponsored employees of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad. 

21. M.S. Quality Management:

This 4 semesters programme is offered for employed eligible professionals in collaboration with Indian Institute of Quality Management, Jaipur. 

22. M.S. Software Engineering:

This 4 semesters course is conducted for the sponsored employees of the following companies: 

-          Cognizant Technology Solutions, Chennai

-                     Satyam Computer Services, Hyderabad

-                     Tata Elxsi (India), Bangalore

-                     Wipro Technologies, Bangalore 

23. M.S. Telecommunications and Software Engineering:

This is a 4 semesters programme and is conducted for the sponsored employees of WIPRO Technologies, Bangalore and Satyam Computer Service, Bangalore. 

24. M.Phil Hospital and Health Systems Management:

It is a 3 semesters programme for employed professionals in the Healthcare Industry with at least one year experience and is conducted in collaboration with Christian Medical College, Vellore; Bombay Hospital, Mumbai; and Tulane University Medical Centre, New Orleaans, Louisiana, USA.

25. M.Phil Optometry:

This Programme is of 4 semesters and  conducted in collaboration with Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.  It is open for  all candidates who may not be working in Sankara Nethralya. 

26.       M.Phil   Physician Assistant:

This 4 semester programme is offered at Chennai in collaboration with Madras Medical Mission, Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases.  This programme is also open for all candidates. 

Most of the above mentioned programmes are meant for employees of different companies.  Most of them are software and engineering sectors.  However,  some  courses are also offered by the pharmaceutical industries like Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited.   Optometry courses are offered through most of the reputed hospitals in India such as Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai and L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. 

We were told that the responsibility of teaching of these courses is shared by the host institutions and BITS, Pilani.  Most of the admissions are done by the BITS, Pilani after inviting applications through advertisements. 

We were informed that many courses are offered to candidates who are not employed in the host institutions.   Large number of application are received which are shortlisted on the basis of the marks obtained at the 10+2  and degree level.  In undergraduate courses like B.S. Optometry etc. the admission is done through an entrance test conducted by the BITS, Pilani and Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. 

B.  Off Campus Distance Learning Programmes:  Some programmes are offered through distance mode for employees working in different companies.  There is no collaboration from any institution and teaching is directly done by using the Web Technology.  Students admitted to these courses consult material put up on the Website of the BITS, Pilani.  Reply to the queries of students of distance learning programmes are given by the faculty members of the BITS, Pilani. The details of these programmes are as under: 

1.                  B.S. Engineering Technology: 

It is a 6 semesters programmes and is offered for employed persons in Engineering Industries with about 2 years work experience.  This programme has been designed for catering to the requirements of diverse spectrum of Engineering Industries. 

2.                  B.S. Information Systems: 

This course of 5 semesters is offered for employed persons in Information Technology industry with about 2 years work experience.  The purpose of this is catering to the requirement s of diverse spectrum of IT industries. 

3.                  M.S. Manufacturing Management: 

This 4  semesters course is for employed professionals in manufacturing industries to cater the requirements of diverse spectrum of industries. 

4.                  M.S. Software Systems: 

This course is of 4 semesters and is conducted for employed professionals in information technology industries. 

Now Jamia Jamia Hamdard is also considering a proposal to offer courses through distance mode.  It would be appropriate to visit Consultancy Development Centre (CDC) located in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.  This Centre offers M.S. Consultancy Management Programme of 4 semesters.  Prof. Akhtar Majeed and his team may visit this Centre and discuss the experiences of CDC with their professionals on this collaborative programme. 

We also found that distance learning programmes of BITS are using internet extensively by putting up their course material, test schedule, assignment, project reports etc. on net.  In order to expose our faculty members to use this technology, we have invited Prof. Rahul Banerjee,. Dean, Distance Learning Programmes to make a presentation on 20.5.2003 (Tuesday) at 9.30 AM. 

Prof. B.R. Natarajan, Director, Distance Learning Programmes of BITS, Pilani will also make a presentation about the experiences of BITS,  about the collaborative and distance learning programmes.  We were also informed that all the teachers of BITS, Pilani are expected to put up their class notes on the Website which is then used by regular students of BITS and also by the students admitted to  distance learning programmes.  We were informed that no remuneration and allowance is paid to teachers for putting up their notes on the Website. 

ICFAI has recently been granted the  status of a University in the State of Chhatisgarh  through an act of State Legislation.  ICFAI is well-known in the country for offering courses in certain areas.  Now they are offering courses like BBM, BIT,  B.Tech. LLB etc.  ICFAI along with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India  are offering some courses through distance mode.   Prof. Akthar Majeed and his team may visit some of the centers of the ICFAI and also visit the Institute of the Chartered Accountants of India to see the modalities of courses offered by them. 

I have also seen an advertisement of NIIT whose courses in IT were not so far recognized by any university.  It seems that they have now tied up with Karnataka State Open University, Mysore in B.Sc. (IT) and M.Sc. (IT) Programmes.  In their advertisement they are also offering  B.S. in Information System & Security which is a 4 years programme.  Similarly, ICFAI is offering a BIT (H) Programme of 4 years.  These programmes may also be studied so that we may decide the courses which could  propose to be offered in Jamia Hamdard. 

 (Siraj Hussain)
Vice-Chancellor