Converting Potential into Possibilities: Harnessing Future Learning Skills-St Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangaluru reaches out to more than 4,000 global learners through a multitude of free online certificate courses
Mangaluru: In April 2020, one of the premier institutions of higher education, St Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangaluru responded quickly to the challenge of the uncertainties shrouded around the Covid-19 pandemic and launched an exclusive e-learning portal (sac-elearning.com) of its own. As thousands of young students were pushed into lockdown, institutions faced a predicament of keeping the staff and students engaged in serious academic activities and value-added initiatives. In this context, the idea of offering free online courses struck the College authorities.
The portal offered more than 40 free online certificate courses to its students and the general public. The Management and the staff came together during the peak of the pandemic lockdown as one team and successfully completed all courses with more than 4,000 keen learners from over 200 institutions across the globe.
“I’m delighted by the unprecedented applications pouring in from all quarters. The spectrum of learners of different ages, professions, disciplines, states and countries has been mind-boggling. I have received regular mails of appreciation and genuine assessment of courses from the registered students,” says a proud and contented Principal, Rev. Dr Praveen Martis, SJ. He gives the entire credit to his committed band of teachers who have put in their heart and souls into the innovative project.
One of the participants, a top officer in the services who wished to remain anonymous, shares his learning experience of the HR course thus: “It is educative, interactive and thought – provoking at the same time. The quiz and assignments set at a professional level to check the competence of the HR Team. They have come out with flying colors for your institution. I would be happy to tell you that I would recommend the course for my fellow officers and subordinates.”
As the entire education system was faced with a sudden challenge, institutions in the state and the country came to a standstill with students were sent home abruptly fearing the spread of the Coronavirus. Everything that was generally ‘normal’ lost their relevance and all stakeholders of education were caught unawares; they had a series of uncertainties to contend with regarding completion of the curricular calendar, examinations and moving ahead with life with qualification for a gainful employment.
The College sources say that there was a rush of registration to most courses and the College and departments had to evolve methods to streamline and admit students keeping certain priorities in mind and that was a herculean task.
All the targets for enrollment were fulfilled within a week of launching, and from then on it was a thrilling and exciting learning experience for the teachers as well as students. The month of May, 2020 will go in the annals of Aloysian history as a landmark when the College made a difference in the lives of thousands of learners globally by empowering them with novel ideas, value added knowledge and information with techno savvy tools and learner-friendly pedagogical paradigms – all for free during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This initiative has been very exciting learning experience for to all of us. We were wondering how to spend these uncertain times. Besides studying for our end semester examinations, we earned a certificate and added value to our learning output. Hats off to the College for keeping us engaged!” says Pia, a student of final B Sc after completion of the course.
Aji Joseph from Bishop Kurialacherry College expressed his feelings on Chemsketch course saying: St Aloysius College made my quarantine time fruitful and that it was worth it. He has suggested that the course be continued for the benefit of teachers like him. Another faculty in Chemistry, Priyanka V has expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the College for the dedication and patience with which the trainers imparted skills drawing the structures of molecules and reactions in a professional manner. Anusha John K, a PG student expressed her joy at the confidence that the online course instilled I her to complete her Project Report.
The college has expressed its joy and satisfaction at the unprecedented responses and the feedback on the online courses and eagerly waits in anticipation to take the initiative to yet another level by launching a series of webinars on various contemporary topics, issues and concerns in the coming days and weeks. All these courses will be offered again on the exclusive institutional e-learning portal as the academic session begins soon.