HCL, BSNL pact with Madras University

The University of Madras will soon enter into Memorandums of Understanding with BSNL and HCL to offer distance education and certificate courses to students and employees respectively. While the course training will be offered by the respective companies, the University of Madras will recognise the modules and provide the certificates. Director of the Institute of Distance Education (IDE), V Thangaraj, told Express that the courses are likely to be launched from the next academic year. According to him arrangements are being worked out to offer certificate programmes in telecommunications through BSNL’s Regional Telecom Training Centre in Maraimalai Nagar for students from nearby colleges. This will act as a value addition to degrees they are already pursuing at college.

With regard to the collaboration with HCL, he said the company had shown keen interest in MBA courses offered by the IDE. “The classes will be undertaken by trainers with HCL. We will conduct the exams and provide the certificates to the successful employees,” he said.

Also on cards are revamped of syllabi for several distance education courses to suit industry preferences. Major changes would include ushering in of the� credit-based evaluation system and computer training classes for all courses.