Indian Catholic University Launches Seven Online Degree Courses

A Catholic university in the northeast Indian state of Assam is offering global access to its degree courses in seven programmes in three disciplines.Claiming to be the first of its kind in the country, Assam Don Bosco University based in Guwahati, already in its third year, is all set to launch its first online degree programmes.

``We hope to target thousands of working-class young people across the globe,`` says the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Stephen Mavely SDB, explaining how the classes and study will take place on the Web, enabling students to have access to the best professors from around the country. Using the state-of-the-art Virtual Classroom Technology, the varsity will run the programmes designed for working executives and professionals looking for study projects that complement their work and their need to juggle a career, a family and a degree programme.             These programmes give an option for anyone anywhere to be part of Don Bosco University (DBU) backed by its worldwide network in education and other developmental works. Currently Don Bosco Society operates in 132 countries.             The DBU OnLine programme director, Dr. Joseph Anikuzhikkattil, says, ``From this year, we are offering study programmes in the following subjects: Executive MBA (1 year), MBA in Information Technology (2 years), MBA in Entrepreneurship (2 years), MBA with Specialisation (2 years), MS (Information Technology) (2 years), Bachelor of Business Administration (3 years) and Bachelor of Computer Applications (3 years).`` Details of registration are available at www.dbuglobal.com             Programme coordinator, Arnab Kumar Choudhury, adds: ``This will be followed by many more degree/diploma/certificate programmes in a modular structure in quick succession.``             Currently, DBU conducts regular degree courses in Management, Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Applications from Don Bosco College of Engineering and Technology at Azara and Don Bosco Institute of Management at Kharguli, Guwahati.             Construction work on the 272-acre main campus at Tapesia Gardens, 16 km from state capital Dispur, is to commence shortly. Within three to five years, the DBU main campus residential complex is expected to house some six thousand students and staff. Besides the academic and administrative complex, the campus will also have a tea plantation, orange grove, sports complex, chapel, convention centre, hospital facilities, bio-diversity park as well as a free high school for one thousand poor students. BY SR SHIJI JAMES MSMCH