Jamia Millia Islamia has received over 5,000 applications from Indian defence personnel for the Centre for Defence and Open Learning, choosing the distance learning courses as their first choice.
Jamia Millia Islamia has received over 5,000 applications from Indian defence personnel for the Centre for Defence and Open Learning, choosing the distance learning courses as their first choice.
The university had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy for mutual collaboration for academic and technical advancement and progression of the defence personnel. This would permit the defence personnel to undertake degrees and diplomas through distance mode, offered through CDOL, in one sitting.
“Unexpectedly, we have received large number of applications from the armed forces personnel who wish to undertake bachelor’s or master’s degree from the university. When we signed the MoU to begin this joint course, we were expecting not more than 100 to 200 applications, but till now we have received about 5,500 applications. Looking at the number of applications pouring in, we might extend the deadline,” said Jamia professor and officer on special duty Mujtaba Khan.
However, the main aim behind starting the programme is to provide the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force personnel an exemption of two years in the case of graduate degree programmes and one year in post-graduate degree programmes. “Such officials enter into Army forces at an early age due to which they fail to access benefits of formal system of education.”
“So, when they plan to leave their profession and look for other jobs, they face difficulties without having any academic qualificiation. Keeping this in mind, we decided to take education at the doorstep of the learner and begin this programme,” the OSD added.
The courses on offer are B.A., B.B.A., B.Com. and M.A. (human resource management) final year followed by one-year post-gradiuate diploma in guidance and counseling for both the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy candidates with an exception of M.A. (education) final year in guidance and counseling exclusively which can only be pursued by Indian Navy personnel.
In addition , joint equivalence committees of IAF-JMI and IN-JMI have also been formed and will look after the trainings and practical sessions of these soldiers while also giving them scores.
