University of Hyderabad: Upgrade your Knowledge
About the institution: The University of Hyderabad was recently placed 
number 1 in India based on the international agency SCOPUS's ranking, taking into account institutions' academic and research activities in the last 10 years. It "has received the highest NAAC 98.6% grading, something which no university has achieved," says S Jeelani, director, Centre for Distance and Virtual Learning, (CDVL), which was set up in 1994. The centre's stated aim is to make higher education accessible to all sections of society.
From just "a couple of PG diploma" courses, the centre has grown to offer 17 career-oriented, skill development, and knowledge upgradation courses, including two new ones in 2011. It has teamed up with the National Institute of Rural Development for rural-based courses, the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management for agricultural technology management and with BSNL, Hyderabad, for telecommunication. The institute has a tie-up with Truth Labs for forensic science and criminal justice.
"Most of our students are IPS and IAS officers. We also have lawyers, judges, state and central government employees, housewives and corporate executives enrolled with us," says S Jeelani, director, CDVL.
A total of 1500 students were registered with CDVL in 2010-2011. The student intake is a maximum of 250 per programme per year. Admission is open to graduates.
Programmes on offer: One-year postgraduate diploma in project management, library automation and networking, chemical analysis and quality management, cyber laws and intellectual property rights, business management, communicative English, energy management, criminal justice and forensic science, governance, human rights, translation studies in Hindi (PGDTSH), telecommunications, mass communication and translation techniques in Telugu (PGDMCTTT), medicinal botany, consumer education, technology management in agriculture, and sustainable rural development.
The university is introducing new programmes and more are on the cards. Under a memorandum of understanding with the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, CDVL has launched a postgraduate diploma in technology management in agriculture this year.
More courses are to be started next year, after the centre signs MoUs with the PharmaCambridge, United Kingdom; Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development; Academy of Global Education Studies, Mumbai; and GVK Biotech, Hyderabad.
The medium of instruction is English, except for some programmes like PGDTSH and PGDMCTTT, where teaching is in Hindi and Telugu, respectively.
Fees range: Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 (2011), plus Rs 300 as term fee. The registration fee is Rs 300 (for prospectus downloaded from the UoH website). Otherwise, it's Rs 350 (with prospectus).
Support systems/ facilities for CDVL students: The Distance Education Council has sanctioned Rs 20 lakh to the centre to buy equipment like computers and photocopiers and to hold workshops. As per the new HRD ministry and DEC guidelines, the centre is going for ICT-based learning from 2011 onwards.
Students are required to come for compulsory contact classes of 60 to 80 hours (equal to 10 days) conducted during holidays. They can stay at the university guest house (subject to availability). "I paid Rs 50 per day for lodging," says Sumeet Kumar Verma, an assistant manager in a power company in Delhi who earned a PG diploma in energy management.
The faculty includes eminent members from the regular departments of the university as well as from outside.
Total number and list of study centres: The university doesn't have any study or exam centres for ODL enrollees. Students need to come to Hyderabad to attend classes for about seven days and write exams over three days every semester. "The University of Hyderabad has been ranked number one in India. We don't permit study centres (due to concerns regarding quality)," says Jeelani.
Enrollment time: Applications are invited in October every year and the last date of submission is November. The admission letter is sent in December. The last date for payment of course fee is January 31 of every year. Admission is merit-based. A merit list is prepared according to applicants' marks in bachelors' or masters' programmes.
Approval from DEC: The University Grants Commission-All India Council of Technical Education-Distance Education Council gave its approval in principle to all the courses being offered by the Centre. At present the centre has provisional approval for 2011-12, says Jeelani.
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Source: HT Horizons
Date: 6th June, 2011
