Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches SWAYAM Plus platform policy new 2024:—
The Indian Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the SWAYAM Plus platform on 27th February 2024, marking a significant advancement in India’s digital learning ecosystem. The SWAYAM Plus platform is an upgraded version of the existing SWAYAM portal, a government initiative providing free online courses ranging from class 9 to postgraduate levels. The platform hosts a wide array of courses created by prestigious institutions such as the IITs and the IISc under the NPTEL initiative, along with content from central and state universities, UGC, and AICTE.
SWAYAM Plus represents a leap towards integrating industry-relevant learning with academic education. It includes content from eminent industry platforms like TCS Ion, among others, who have signed MOUs with the government to provide courses on the platform. This integration allows for up to 40% of a student’s credits to be earned through SWAYAM Plus, which can be credited into the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR). APAAR is a digital repository that assigns a unique 12-digit ID to students for storing records, achievements, and credentials. Over 25,000 crore APAAR IDs have already been generated.
One of the key highlights of SWAYAM Plus is its focus on micro-credentials and short-term knowledge acquisition processes. These are designed to be offered in terms of credit, allowing students to become competent in various domains. The UGC Chairman emphasized the importance of acquiring skills and competencies beyond just degrees, suggesting that students should gather credits from multidisciplinary areas of study and store them in the Academic Bank of Credit to enhance employability.
By July 2023, the ministry had signed 106 agreements with various organizations and institutions to foster innovation, research, and knowledge exchange. Among the industry partners on SWAYAM Plus is Job Plus, a startup providing skills training in the hospitality and service sector, highlighting the platform’s commitment to directly linking education to employability.
The launch of SWAYAM Plus is a significant step towards creating a comprehensive digital ecosystem for learners, educators, and industry professionals, aiming to bridge the gap between academic education and industry requirements. then
The SWAYAM Plus platform, launched by Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, is set to revolutionize the digital learning landscape in India. It extends the foundational SWAYAM portal’s mission to provide quality education to students across the country, regardless of their geographical location. The platform is part of India’s larger digital public infrastructure initiatives aimed at making education more accessible and relevant to the evolving job market.
Here are more intricate details about the SWAYAM Plus platform and its implications:
Key Features of SWAYAM Plus:
Integration with Industry: SWAYAM Plus integrates courses from industry giants and eminent platforms like TCS Ion. This collaboration ensures that the content is not only academically enriching but also industry-relevant, providing students with the skills demanded by employers today.
Credit System: The University Grants Commission (UGC) allows up to 40% of the credits required for a degree to be earned through courses taken on SWAYAM Plus. This flexibility encourages students to tailor their education according to their interests and career aspirations.
APAAR Platform: The launch also highlighted the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR), which plays a crucial role in this ecosystem. APAAR facilitates the storage of student records, achievements, and credentials digitally, ensuring a seamless transition of credits earned through SWAYAM Plus into students’ academic portfolios.
Micro-Credentials: Emphasizing the importance of micro-credentials, SWAYAM Plus encourages short-term, credit-based learning. This approach allows learners to acquire specific skills and knowledge in a shorter duration, making education more flexible and modular.
Industry Partnerships: With over 106 agreements signed with various organizations, SWAYAM Plus is poised to offer a diverse range of courses. These partnerships span both public and private sectors, enhancing the platform’s offerings with cutting-edge knowledge and insights from the industry.
Impact on Education and Employability:
The introduction of SWAYAM Plus is expected to have a profound impact on the education sector and employability in India:
Enhanced Access to Quality Education: By providing free online courses from renowned institutions, SWAYAM Plus democratizes access to quality education, enabling students from remote areas to learn from the best.
Bridging the Skill Gap: The platform addresses the skill gap in the Indian workforce by aligning academic learning with industry needs. This alignment ensures that students are job-ready upon completing their courses.
Promoting Lifelong Learning: The focus on micro-credentials and credit-based learning promotes lifelong learning among individuals. It encourages professionals to continually update their skills in response to industry trends.
Looking Ahead:-
The SWAYAM Plus platform represents a significant step forward in India’s digital education journey. By fostering a closer integration between academia and industry and emphasizing skill-based learning, SWAYAM Plus aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the 21st-century job market. As the platform evolves, it is expected to play a pivotal role in transforming the educational landscape of India, making it more inclusive, flexible, and aligned with the global economy’s demands