DU Institute of Life Long Learning Likely To Be Decentralized

New Delhi: The Institute of Life Long Learning (ILLL) at the Delhi University (DU) will soon be decentralized. The reason is that smaller versions of the learning centre, which will be located in 12 colleges are about to be set up. The decentralization of the centre is being taken as a step that will make learning a more interactive process between the students as well as the teachers. Currently, the institute has only two centres, one each in the north and south campuses.

As per sources, the ILLL came into existence in the year 2007. The main purpose is to provide additional study material and tools for students of the Delhi University. It has an online portal that includes e-content for about 12 subjects, such as e-lectures, e-quizzes, e-lessons, e-labs, etc. DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh has said that establishing smaller versions of the ILLL in DU colleges would mean utilizing connectivity in all ways, whether it is connecting minds, or institutions. He said that it will be a two-way learning procedure where students will be giving their inputs on the provision of the learning material.

Moreover, the 12 colleges where the ILLL centres will be set up are yet to be finalized. These will be chosen on the basis of the competence of the college with respect to information and communication technology along with their ability to provide additional inputs to the institute. The chosen colleges will also be influential in involving the students in the procedure of content creation. The creation of content for several subjects requires manpower and also costs a lot of money. It had been decided that students from computer science will be involved in helping upload the e-content on the portal and will also be paid for it.

Also, the ILLL has planned to upload content on its portals that will be for foreign students, allowing them to obtain a degree from DU online. A step in this direction that has already been taken is by the School of Open Learning that runs a pan-Africa e-network. Students from six countries in Africa can access online lectures in two certificate programmes of the university, accounting and communication skills. The students are awarded DU certificates on completion of these courses.