Meta-university for students to pursue cross-discipline programmes

Updated on: Thursday, November 17, 2011

A student enrolled in a college or a university will soon be able to pursue cross-discipline programmes simultaneously, with the Government proposing to set up a 'meta-university'.

The proposed institution, for example, will make it possible for an IIT Kanpur student to also enrol for a course in Ancient History from Jawaharlal Nehru University or a Mathematics student from Indian Institute of Science pursue a course in comparative literature from Jadavpur University.

"They would be tested for their competencies before enrolling into the particular programme in another university and will be awarded degrees," said chairman of National Innovation Council Sam Pitroda.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced setting up meta-university while releasing the first report of the Council.

"The idea is to enable students use open source learning material from across the globe including learning material prepared by IITs," Pitroda said while Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the university would go into operation from next year.

"It is a collaborative and multi-disciplinary learning platform," Mukherjee said describing the university.

The university will leverage on national knowledge network programme which already connects major institutes across the country through high-speed fibre based broadband connectivity.

The university also promises a unique opportunity to the country for innovation given the enormous unmet demand for high quality education in an environment of limited resources and availability of a dedicated national network, said the council report, released by the PM.

Pitroda said while several aspects of the proposed meta-university are yet to be worked out, students of Delhi would be among the first ones to benefit from it.

According to the Council report, while taking up courses in other universities, "students with the help of mentors will be allowed to customise their learning experience and select options from a wide menu of choices leveraging the specialisation of inpidual institutions".

Releasing the first year report of the Council, the Prime Minister said the HRD Ministry has proposed to introduce innovation fellowship to reward talent at the school level.

The Ministry also proposes to engage students at high school level to map local history, ecology and local culture heritage to make them critically conscious of their immediate environment.

He said Prasar Bharati has decided to champion on local innovations and local heroes of innovation. "In addition, they would be showcasing India's legacy of innovative though and major innovations."

To increase competitiveness of local small scale industry, the Council along with Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises is setting up industry innovation clusters.

"Two clusters have signed in for setting up courses in innovation, one with Delhi University and the other with MS University, Baroda," he said.

Meta-university for students to pursue cross-discipline programmes

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