SWAYAM – Features, Objectives, Eligibility, National Coordinators

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is a government initiative providing free online education across India. Launched by the Ministry of Education, it offers courses from school to university level, designed by top educators from premier institutions like IITs and IIMs. The platform aims to make quality education accessible, featuring video lectures, reading materials, self-assessment tests, and discussion forums to enhance learning. Read this article to know more about SWAYAM.

What is SWAYAM?

SWAYAM is a government program offering free and high-quality online education. It’s for students from Class 9th to post-graduation. The platform uses advanced teaching methods and multimedia tools to provide courses on a variety of subjects and skills. There are over 2000 courses taught by experienced instructors as of December 2022. These courses are carefully selected and delivered by nine National Coordinators. Accessing SWAYAM MOOC courses is free, and after completing a course and passing the exam, participants can get a SWAYAM certificate. There’s a small fee for enrolling in the exam.

SWAYAM Full Form

SWAYAM stands for “Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds”. It’s a program launched by the Indian government to provide free and accessible online courses to students of all ages. Through SWAYAM, you can find courses on various topics from Science and Mathematics to History, Literature, and even professional skills development.

Objectives of SWAYAM

The SWAYAM initiative aims to ensure widespread access to high-quality educational resources, particularly for individuals who have been historically underserved. This involves:

• Bridging the digital divide for students who have yet to experience the benefits of the digital revolution, enabling their participation in the knowledge economy.
• Providing a comprehensive online and mobile platform featuring interactive e-content tailored for all educational levels, ranging from High School to University.
• Offering a superior learning experience characterized by multimedia elements, accessible at any time and from any location.
• Establishing an advanced system for seamless access, monitoring progress, and facilitating certification.
• Fostering opportunities for peer interaction through discussion forums to address queries and concerns.

Features of SWAYAM

The SWAYAM platform encompasses several crucial features, including:

1. Accessible Mobile Learning: SWAYAM facilitates learning that is easily accessible from any location through devices connected to the internet. Serving as a hub for interactive e-content, it ensures flexibility in learning.
2. Audio-Visual Content: Courses on the platform are presented in an audio-visual multimedia format, enhancing accessibility and enriching the learning experience for users.
3. Certificate Courses: The platform monitors student progress and issues certificates upon successful completion of online exams, providing a tangible recognition of achievement.
4. Doubt Solving: SWAYAM incorporates an Interaction Forum where learners can actively engage to clarify doubts and enhance their understanding of course material.
5. Quality Assurance: Designed by renowned professors and faculties from universities, SWAYAM courses maintain high-quality standards, preserving the excellence of traditional classroom teaching.
6. Proctored Platform: The platform conducts exams in a proctored manner to prevent malpractice, ensuring the integrity of the examination process and the credibility of certifications.
7. Free of Cost: All courses on SWAYAM are available without any charges, fostering inclusive access to education with no hidden fees.
8. Transfer of Credit: UGC regulations (UGC Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM, 2016) permit the transfer of credits earned from SWAYAM courses to students’ academic records in their respective institutions or universities, promoting the recognition of online learning achievements.

Eligibility for SWAYAM

Anyone with internet access and a device can freely register on the Swayam portal, as there are no specific eligibility requirements. It’s an open opportunity for individuals to easily sign up for Swayam courses and embark on their online learning journey.

Approach of SWAYAM

The SWAYAM portal employs a four-quadrant-based approach to enhance the educational experience for children and students. The four quadrants of SWAYAM encompass:

• Video Lectures: In this initiative, the government aims to provide free education to individuals through interactive video lectures. These high-quality lectures will be delivered by expert mentors, ensuring effective learning.
• Specially Prepared Reading Material: Easily downloadable and printable e-materials, such as PDFs and PPTs, will be made available to aid learning and revision through self-reading.
• Self-Assessment Tests: The portal will conduct regular tests and quizzes to assess learning comprehensively and evaluate performance effectively.
• Online Discussion Forum: Recognizing the importance of clearing subject-related doubts for holistic learning, the portal will host discussion forums where learners can engage to resolve their queries.

This four-quadrant approach plays a crucial role in the betterment of education for children and students on the SWAYAM platform.

Responsibilities of SWAYAM

• Establish the SWAYAM Platform for collaborative education, integrating expertise from diverse fields and leveraging advanced pedagogy and technology.
• Procure essential resources to ensure the smooth operation of SWAYAM, supporting its mission to transform education outcomes in India.
• Drive the transformation of India’s education landscape by cost-effectively expanding access to quality education.
• Provide a broad spectrum of free online courses, ranging from Class IX to Post Graduate levels, with a nominal certification fee.
• Host an extensive portfolio of 10,000 online courses tailored to meet the educational needs of 30 million learners.
• Develop comprehensive e-content for courses spanning from School Secondary level to Post Graduation.
• Introduce interdisciplinary courses to facilitate self-paced learning, covering diverse subjects such as Yoga, GST, Economic Survey, etc.
• Offer curriculum-based courses in emerging disciplines, staying at the forefront of educational innovation.
• Prioritize the goal of making students employable in the industry or well-prepared for higher education.
• Embrace technology-based online learning to provide flexible and accessible education.
• Facilitate collaboration between SWAYAM, education, and technology partners to promote knowledge sharing and democratize education in India.

Beneficiaries of SWAYAM

The SWAYAM initiative is accessible nationwide, benefiting:

• Students ranging from class 9th to post-graduation.
• Students from diverse academic streams, including arts, science, engineering, commerce, performing arts, medicine, humanities, law, agriculture, etc.
• Additionally, as of 2019, the central government extended access to SWAYAM MOOC Courses to students and faculty in Educational Institutions in Afghanistan.

SWAYAM – MOOC

1. MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Courses, a term coined by Dave Cormier in 2008.
2. India features two major public MOOC platforms: NPTEL and SWAYAM.
3. The SWAYAM MOOC Platform, developed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2016, facilitates the hosting of online learning courses.
4. Courses on the SWAYAM MOOC platform are accessible to anyone, anywhere, and at any time.
5. SWAYAM MOOC courses are provided free of cost to all users.
6. The MOOC platform of SWAYAM is recognized as one of the world’s largest platforms.
7. Globally renowned MOOC platforms include Coursera, edX, FutureLearn, and others.

SWAYAM – National Coordinators

Nine National Coordinators oversee a range of courses and educational levels.

SWAYAM and SWAYAM Prabha

1. SWAYAM PRABHA, a group of educational DTH channels, began in 2017.
2. As of December 2022, there are 34 channels within the SWAYAM Prabha initiative.
3. These channels broadcast high-quality educational programs continuously, 24/7.
4. Transmission is facilitated by the GSAT-15 satellite from ISRO for the SWAYAM Prabha app and channels.
5. Content and programs are prepared by educational entities such as NPTEL, IITs, UGC, CEC, IGNOU, NCERT, and NIOS.
6. Learners can access SWAYAM Prabha TV channels through free or paid dish services and the SWAYAM Prabha app.
7. The channels provide curriculum-based course content for school education, professional courses, and college education.
8. Competitive exam preparation courses for exams like IIT, NEET, etc., are also telecasted.
9. Programs are available in various languages, including English, Hindi, Urdu, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and other major foreign languages.

Important Terms and Abbreviations related to SWAYAM

A table is provided below for some important terms and abbreviations related to the SWAYAM platform.

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