LAHORE: A certificate distribution ceremony was held at the Information Technology University (ITU) upon completion of first edX integrated course, on Monday.
Information Technology University Vice Chancellor Dr Umar Saif distributed certificates among course participants.
Speaking on the occasion, the ITU vice chancellor said, “The incorporation of ‘Circuits and Electronics’ – offered by edX – with the course ‘Linear Circuit Analysis’ – offered at the ITU – has proven to be very effective.
The collaboration of edX and the ITU was the result of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) singed in February 2017 under which it was decided that edX courses would be taught to students under the direct supervision of the Information Technology University faculty, whilst using edX digital study materials and technological platform.
It may be mentioned that edX is an online learning destination and an online course provider, offering high-quality courses from the world’s best universities and institutions to learners everywhere.
Under the MoU, it was decided that the ITU would offer it students a course in electrical engineering, the same course being taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Dr Umar said that it was an encouraging moment for ITU students, who were taking the same exam as students at the MIT.
He added, “Education technology is the future and Information Technology University is leading the way in this regard.”
The vice chancellor said that the successful collaboration of the Information Technology University and edX was leading to the formation of the first ‘digital university’ of Pakistan. “The collaboration with edX has enabled Pakistani students to take courses from top universities in the world in their classrooms at Information Technology University under the supervision of the ITU faculty members,” he said.
“This is the first of its kind partnership of edX with any university, in which online courses on edX are integrated into classrooms and supervised exams. Students earn a course completion certificate from a university such as MIT or Harvard and course credits from the Information Technology University.”
Currently, ITU’s first year electrical engineering students were enrolled in the circuits and electronics course at MIT through the partnership.
“High quality video lectures by Dr Anant Agarwal – the world famous professor at the MIT – were integrated into the Information Technology University lectures and reinforced during lab sessions. In addition to it, students were exposed to a range of design problems in the lab sessions, which enabled them to acquire a deeper understanding of the concepts.
The students also interacted with the edX teaching associates and students at the MIT through an online discussion forum,” he added.
Project Director Waqas Halim mentioned, “This unique blended-learning approach of intertwining distance learning and classroom instruction was remarkably effective. The classroom experience with supervised assessment and peer interaction was added by the ITU, whereas course content and pedagogical underpinnings were contributed by the MIT”.