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Who awards the degrees and in what areas?
The Distance Education programmes are validated and awarded by the Sikkim Manipal University (SMU).
What is a Learning Center?
Sri Sai - Learning Center has set up an office in its region of operation. These will provide all necessary support that students enrolled on the SMU programmes will need. Support available to students enrolled on the SMU programmes through the Sri Sai Learning Center includes onsite tutorial support, counselling, library facilities, computer lab facilities, examination centre etc.
Who are the faculty teaching on the programmes / courses?
Courses are developed and taught by qualified faculty. All of the faculties are approved by the University SMU before teaching on the programme. Every faculty member holds at least a Master’s degree or above in a field related to the subject he/she teaches .Most faculty also have significant teaching and industry experience.
Are Distance Education courses the same courses as those normally offered on campus (face to face teaching)?
Yes and no. Yes, Distance Education courses are equivalent in breadth and depth of content, workload, and quality of learning as traditional classroom courses. No, they are not the same since the teaching and learning activities in Distance Education courses may be somewhat different than the teaching and learning activities in traditional on-campus courses.
Will I need to travel to the India to complete my degree?
No. Students will not be required to leave their home countries. They can complete their degrees staying in their home countries.
Is the Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) accredited?
The Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical and Technological sciences (SMU), Gangtok is incorporated under the state Legislative Act (Act IX of 1995) of the Government of Sikkim. It is recognized by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development and by the University Grants Commission. SMU’s Degrees/Diplomas/Certificates are recognized by all members of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and are at par with Degrees/Diplomas/Certificates of all Indian Universities/Deemed Universities Institutions vide UGC Circular NO FI-B/92(CCP) dated February 1992 & AIU Circular No EV/B(449)/94 / 176915-177115 dated January,1994.
How the SMU Distance Education is programmes different to other distance online degrees?
Unlike most other distance / online degree programmes, where most interaction between teachers and students happen asynchronously, the SMU delivery system allows for regular contact in synchronous mode between the student and teacher. This happens during the weekly lecture and tutorial session which is scheduled once every week and conducted via a sophisticated video and audio cassettes and CDs. These sessions are conducted at times convenient to the students. Students who cannot attend these sessions can retrieve these lectures as they will be recorded. In addition to this, students can talk to the faculty members during their scheduled office hours.
Are online classes like “correspondence” courses?
No. When students take correspondence courses there is generally no interaction with fellow classmates and little with their instructor. In the SMU courses, the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other class members is frequent, and in some cases, immediate. Students can interact by face to face. Students in the programme also have access to faculty via email, typically answered within 24 hours. There is a dynamic nature to the online environment that cannot be duplicated in a correspondence course. Correspondence courses are usually open-ended in terms of time completion;
How can I ask the faculty questions?
Students can use the class hours which are conducted on weekends or email to communicate directly with the instructor, who will usually respond within a day or so. Students can also communicate with one another using their own email addresses,
How many years it will take me to graduate?
A standard SMU Bachelor degree requires students to take six semesters of 6 months each that means of 3 years. Where as a Masters degree will take 4 semesters / two years. For further details see the prospectus.
How can I get started?
Once you have decided on your programme of study, students may download the application form from www.srisaiet.com.et or apply online. Completed application forms must be accompanied by the supporting documents mentioned in the website.
For more information on Sikkim Manipal University and Manipal Universal Learning, please visit our website www.manipalu.com
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