Top Indian universities take part in education forum organised by University of London

The event, “India-UK Forum on Policy and Practice in Online and Distance Higher Education,” took place on Wednesday 25 June facilitated by the UoL Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE).

The online forum brought together experts from the Indira Gandhi National Open University, University of Delhi, Symbiosis International Pune, University of London, University of Leeds, and UCL.

Speakers exchanged insights and experiences in three sessions focused on designing effective learning experiences at scale, strategic approaches to successful student engagement and wellbeing, and assessment for student success.

Chaired by Dr Linda Amrane-Cooper, Director of CODE, speakers included Professor Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University; Dr Margaret Korosec, Dean of Online and Digital Education, University of Leeds; Professor Norbert Pachler, Pro-Vice-Provost (Teaching, Learning, Digital Education) at UCL; Dr Parimala Veluvali, Director and Associate Professor, Symbiosis School for Online and Digital Learning, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), India; Professor Ajay Jaiswal, Principal, School of Open Learning, University of Delhi; and Professor Alan Tait, Emeritus Professor of Distance Education and Development, Open University and Centre for Online and Distance Education.

The following day Professor Uma Kanjilal and Dr Linda Amrane-Cooper had the pleasure of working together again at an event at the Open University UK, hosted by the British Council. The roundtable, ‘Strengthening higher education systems – exploring and developing best practices for quality assurance in online, distance and digitally delivered learning’ brought together the National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India, and the QAA who both identified national regulatory contexts and requirements.  Three UK higher education institutions, including the University of London showcased the approaches taken to quality assurance of online and distance education. 

The two events this week demonstrated the importance of mutual learning and sharing of practice.

Dr Linda Amrane-Cooper, Director of Academic Practice in Distance Education, said:

India has an astonishing pedigree when it comes to providing higher education at huge scale – much of it via distance learning. Indira Gandhi National Open University, for instance, which turns 40 this year, and was modelled on our Open University in the UK, is now the biggest university on the planet with over 3.5m students. There is a great deal we can learn from our colleagues in the subcontinent, and I am delighted that the event was so well-attended and feedback post-event so positive.

Mike Winter OBE, Director International Affairs at University of London, added: 

These events are part of a longer-term process of engagement between India and the UK. The growing importance of quality-assured online and distance higher education means that in both countries, as elsewhere, there is mutual benefit in exploring together the question of what excellence looks like: from learning design to student experience, and from student outcomes to careers and employability. I am delighted that we are on this journey together.