Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, has unveiled the “SWAYAM Plus” portal. This innovative platform, developed in partnership with leading industry players such as Microsoft, Cisco, and L&T, aims to offer courses tailored to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world skills.
Managed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras), a pioneer in the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform and a founding member of Swayam-NPTEL, SWAYAM Plus is set to revolutionize online learning. With an impressive growth in enrollment from 31 lakh in 2017 to an anticipated over 72 lakh by the end of 2023, the platform stands as a testament to the increasing demand for quality online education in India.
SWAYAM Plus is designed to significantly boost the employability quotient of both college students and lifelong learners by integrating the practical expertise of its industry partners with the academic excellence of the SWAYAM educational platform. The courses will span a diverse range of fields including manufacturing, energy, computer science and engineering, IT/ITES, management studies, healthcare, hospitality, and tourism, reflecting the multifaceted needs of the global job market.
At the launch, Minister Pradhan emphasized the alignment of SWAYAM Plus with the National Education Policy (NEP), highlighting the unprecedented collaboration between reputable industrial houses, the University Grants Commission (UGC), esteemed educational departments, and elite institutes like IIT Madras. He assured that all courses offered through the portal would be accredited, ensuring their recognition and value.
IIT Madras assures that students engaging with the SWAYAM Plus platform will gain not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills, insights into the latest industry trends, and the competencies demanded by employers today. This initiative is poised to narrow the existing knowledge gap between academia and industry, elevating the employability and competitiveness of graduates.
The SWAYAM Plus platform introduces several innovative features to enhance the learning experience, including credit recognition for academic progress, multilingual content to cater to a wider audience, and an AI-enabled chatbot designed to support students throughout their learning journey.
