TERI Announces Online Programme in Renewable Energy with Support from UKIERI

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a sought-after university for courses related to sustainable development, has forayed into distance learning recently. The university offers an intensive, multi- track, online programme in renewable energy. A two-year advanced postgraduate diploma, and a one-year postgraduate diploma in renewable energy are on offer. Both these programmes have been approved by the Distance Education Council.

Each of these programmes have been split into four certificate courses: CEIE (certificate course in energy infrastructure and efficiencies), CRERP (certificate course in renewable energy resources and policies), CRE (certificate course in renewable energy) and CSTEA (certificate course in software tools for energy analysis)

Rajiv Seth, registrar at the university, says, “A student can opt to take just one certificate course or any combination of two to earn a PG diploma, or can do all four to earn the advanced PG diploma in renewable energy. The courses have been designed to provide the students a comprehensive knowledge of different aspects of various renewable energies, in addition to energy efficiency and energy conservation.”

The fee for each certificate course is ` 20,000, while it is ` 35,000 for the postgraduate diploma and ` 70,000 for the advanced postgraduate diploma. The last date for application is June 30, 2014. Candidates can apply online at the university website www.teriuniversity.ac.in or download the application form from the website and apply in hard copy.

Seth adds that the courses and programmes in renewable energy have been launched with support from the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) and in collaboration with the Open University, UK.

A certificate/diploma programme in sustainable development practices was launched under the aegis of ProSPER.Net (a collaborative network of universities in the Asia-Pacific) supported by the Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan, he says.

“The University has been tasked, under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, Gover nment of India), to develop e-content for post- g raduate courses in environmental science. This aims at development of e-content for university education at the postgraduate level in environmental science courses such as environmental pollution and control, water and waste-water treatment, air quality management, integrated impact assessment and environmental economics. This project addresses the key objective of the MHRD’s National Mission to provide accessible, high quality, course material at the postgraduate level in all subjects at affordable costs with technology-enabled access that will not be limited by geographic constraints,” Seth adds.

He, however, believes that distance education has its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to monitoring and evaluating students. “Monitoring and evaluating student performance is still a major challenge. So far, the TERI University has builtin a one week face-to-face session, where the evaluation was done. However, it is now switching over to online evaluation, which will be done at various earmarked centres,” he adds.

Source: Hindustantimes.com