By IANS,
New Delhi : In an effort to help students with the foundation courses introduced under the four-year undergraduate programme, Delhi University has released books prepared by its own faculty.
“As foundation courses are very vital under the four-year undergradaute programme, the books have been tailored to the needs of students,” Avinashi Kapoor, joint dean, students’ welfare at the university told IANS.
Foundation courses are compulsory courses that undergraduate students are required to take in their first two years.
The subjects being offered under the foundation course programme include language, literature and creativity, building mathematical ability, science and life, history, culture and civilisation, business entrepreneurship, governance and citizenship, philosophy, psychology, communication and life skills, geographic and socio-economic diversity, environment and public health.
“Apart from the books available in print, around 1,250 teachers have also been trained to teach the foundation courses. Special training orientation workshops are organised at the Centre for Professional Development in Higher Educaton (CPHDE),” Kapoor said.
Officials at the university said the study materials provided for the foundation courses are designed to serve as a platform for participative and interactive group projects and class presentations.
“With the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme, all first-year students would also be provided access to laptops at no extra cost, with appropriate software and technology and contemporary classrooms would offer the best in teaching-learning methods,” DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh said.
The university has this year, for the first time, introduced the four-year undergraduate programme which sections of university teachers vigorously opposed.
Under the programme, students will be required to study 11 foundation courses in the first two years, with the main subjects, under disciplines I and II, and applied courses.