New Delhi: The Ministry of HRD launched online Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), an unique initiative of online professional development of 15 lakhs higher education faculty using the MOOCs platform SWAYAM. For implementing ARPIT, 75 discipline-specific National Resource Centres (NRCs) have been identified in the first phase, which are tasked to prepare online training material with focus on latest developments in the discipline. .
The total number teachers enrolled ARPTI via SWAYAM in 2019-20 have surged to nearly 1.5 lakhs vs 51.8 thousands in 2018-19.
Ministry of HRD said that ARPIT will be instrumental in the online professional development of 1.5 million higher education faculty using the MOOCs platform @SWAYAMMHRD.
Through ARPIT all in-service teachers, irrespective of their subject and seniority have been given an enabling opportunity to keep abreast of the latest developments in their disciplines through the technology based online refresher courses. The NRCs have initially developed 3 minute video(s) which have been assessed technically by AICTE and after having met the MOOC guidelines; the same have been approved and uploaded on SWAYAM Portal.
The training materials have now been uploaded and made available through SWAYAM to all the teachers from 1st November, 2018. Currently, registrations are open for the online refresher courses on SWAYAM platform, India’s own indigenous MOOC’s education engine and can be accessed https://swayam.gov.in/courses/public
The course is a 40 hour module with 20 hours of video content and 20 hours of non-video content. They are offered in a highly flexible format and can be done at one’s 3 own pace and time.
All in-service teachers, irrespective of their subject and seniority are requested to register and complete these refresher courses which will help them in career advancement. UGC has recognised them in their latest regulations under Minimum Qualifications For Appointment Of Teachers And Other Academic Staff In Universities And Colleges And Measures For The Maintenance Of Standards In Higher Education 2018.
