Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani, today announced the launch of multiple Management Degree Programs , in collaboration with Online Education provider University18. On the 26th of April, 2010, UOU signed an MOU with University18 , to launch three Management Programs – a one year Executive MBA for Working Professionals, a General MBA , and a Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA). To be launched from the academic year 2010-11 in July 2010, these programs will make extensive use of ICT technology to bridge current gaps in Distance Education. To be taught using an Online Virtual Classroom Platform, the technology would let students login to, attend and interact in live classes, from any PC using a broadband Internet connection. Priced at levels that make these programs affordable to the common adult learner, the BBA would cost approximately INR 10,000 per year, the MBA – INR12,000 per year, and the One Year Executive MBA INR 24,000/-.
The Virtual Classroom technology platform being used by University18 is highly scalable, capable of having upto 50 live hosted 'virtual classrooms' at one time, with each classroom having upto 250 students attending, giving it the capability of having a total of 12500 students logged in at the same time. With the increasing spread of internet and broadband connectivity, this will enable students from distant places and smaller towns, to gain access to quality higher education. The facility to conduct the personal contact program classes online would also add to the acceptance and accessibility of such courses by working professionals. This would be the first of many steps by UOU and University18 towards democratizing quality in Higher Education over Distance Learning.
Present on the occasion of the MOU signing were UOU VC Dr.Vinay Kumar Pathak, Raunak Singh, Director, University18 , B.R Pant, Registrar, UOU and Prof K K Pande, UOU.
