Directorate of Distance Education, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai

To make the distance learning mode of education intriguing, the Directorate of Distance Education renders distance learning courses through updated learning resources. These resources are supplemented with student-oriented and engaging exercises like case studies, practical work, etc. 

The directorate provides lectures digitally to students enrolled in its distance learning courses. The lectures are provided by subject expert guides and are flexibly scheduled. In addition to the webinars, the directorate organises webinars and online lectures by industrial leaders across varied sectors. This is done to equip students with crucial guidance from relevant sources. 

In order to encourage the interaction of students with their peers, the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) facilitates discussion-based learning amongst its students via study groups and discussion forums on social networking platforms. This is done to bridge the gap between regular and distance learning modes of education. 

In order to deliver content that is advanced and comprehensible, the directorate has formed teams of its own to develop self-instructing material for its distance learning students. The objective is to deliver education that is modern and well-structured, so as to ease the distance learning education process. 

To supplement the already diverse and comprehensive learning of the students, the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) is equipped with a well-resourced, digital library. The students can easily access the resources of the library from the comforts of their homes through the screens of their phones.  

To assess students systematically in the distance learning mode, the directorate has developed an objective system of assessment. The assessment system determines the learnings of the students with regard to the relevant aspects of the courses in which they are enrolled. 

The Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) conducts Personal Contact Programmes (PCPs) for its students on a regular basis and in consideration of the job schedule of the working professionals. During personal contact programmes, the students are given opportunities to interact in person with the teachers and the experts to clear their queries and broaden their conceptual knowledge. 

The directorate has an efficient Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System to provide timely updates on attendance, curriculum, examination, and results. Also, the ERP system enables the timely delivery of relevant support services to the students to enhance their experience of distance learning education.