New Delhi: Delhi University (DU) in collaboration with Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi, is planning to launch a new hybrid post graduate (MA) course, from session commencing from September 2012. The course namely, MA in Mathematics and Mass Communication, is being offered under the concept of Meta University. The pilot batch of this to be launched course will comprise of 20 seats.
As per sources, the course will be conducted under the Cluster Innovation Centre (DU) and AJK Mass Communication Research Centre (Jamia Millia Islamia). The mathematics curriculum will be drafted by DU, whereas the mass communication curriculum will be designed by Jamia Milia Islamia. The curriculum has to be approved by the board of department of teachers and the academic council, which will be done by the first week of September, said a senior official.
While explaining about the course, SM Sajid, Registrar, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), said that this MA degree in mathematics and mass communication is a great initiative as two universities come together to share their intellectual resources, faculty, facilities, etc. In addition, Dinesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, DU, said that the course will offer students opportunities in teaching and research. As to be a good mathematics teacher, one has to be a good communicator. A math teacher must be able to explain the subject through different mediums of technology — computer, television, radio, etc. Also, one must be able to promote the subject and excite students.
Furthermore, MM Chaturvedi, Director, Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC), DU, said that the programme is designed in a way that it puts more emphasize on the application of mathematics. The course will be innovative and will be based on application of mathematical concepts rather than teaching and learning mathematics in the traditional way. He further said that the committee is thinking of having virtual classrooms so that students from both universities can benefit through technology. Sixty per cent of the coursework will involve project work, he added.
Sources also informed that the admission will be through a jointly designed entrance test. The universities have got clearance from the University Grants Commission (UGC) about the joint degree. However, it had to wait for the approval in order to be sure of the legality of the joint degree to be awarded to students, said JMI Registar, Sajid. As far as the eligibility is concerned, students who have a background in mathematics or who have cleared two maths papers of 100 marks or students who have had one subject as maths in their graduation are eligible to apply. The fee for the course is Rs 5000.
The four-semester course will cover areas like core mathematics, pedagogy of mathematics, computational skills, etc. Each semester will have four papers and one project has to be carried out by students. Out of the 20 seats, both universities will select 10 students each. The classes will be conducted in both the universities. The course is expected to begin in September.
For more details, one can visit the University’s website: http://www.du.ac.in/ or http://jmi.ac.in/.
