CEPT varsity attracts foreign students for e-learning courses

Not restricting to architects or planners but expanding to engineers, government employees, even people beyond 50 years of age and almost an equal number of women enrolments, the e-learning certificate course offered at Centre for Environment Planning and Technology (CEPT) University is attracting students from even foreign countries.

Apart from the popular courses including Urban Planning and Urban Infrastructure Planning, Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are gaining popularity among professionals and self-employed, private and government employees.

"Earlier, there was a trend of male candidates dominating the enrolments for e-learning courses. Now, with 46 per cent of women candidates, the enrolment is almost in an equal ratio. Talking about the educational profile of these students, around 25 per cent are engineers and another 15 per cent with Science background," said Prof Saswat Bandopadhyay, chairperson of the Centre for Continuing Education at CEPT.

Dilip Kumar Kansara, a 53-year-old interior designer based in Ahmedabad is undertaking the e-learning course in Urban Planning. "The interest and also to add value to my professional qualification and experience made me to enrol for this course. Since it is e-learning, it is all the more convenient for professionals like me," he said.

"At present, about 20 per cent of the enrolment would be from countries like Ethopia, Belgium, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. Similarly, there are candidates who are at senior positions from government organisations like Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation and others," said Prof Sejal Patel, course director at the institute.

Harpreet Singh Brar, pursuing the Urban Infrastructure Planning course, is working in private sector in Jaipur, said the course helped him to not only update his knowledge but also gave him a professional edge.

"It has been more than a decade since I completed my master degree in Urban Planning. Thus, the e-learning course has helped me to understand the nuances of recent demand and practices in the sector," he said. With only two courses, CEPT had introduced e-learning courses in 2008. At present, the university is offering 22 e-learning certificate courses.

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