Kerala to develop State-specific MOOC platform K-learn for four-year UG programmes

Kerala is set to launch K-Learn, a cloud-based online course platform tailored specifically for the State’s four-year undergraduate curriculum.

The initiative aims to fill the gaps left by existing national and global massive open online course (MOOC) platforms by aligning more closely with the existing academic and credit structures of the higher education framework.

It is being designed to overcome the limitations of existing MOOC providers like SWAYAM, Coursera and edX, which do not always align with university academic calendars, credit systems or course outcomes.

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu said K-Learn, spearheaded by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), will serve as a dedicated digital hub offering faculty-designed signature courses. Such courses will be developed by faculty from the State and abroad, and will be hosted on the platform with approval from the respective university Boards of Studies.

KSHEC will establish an independent unit within its Centre of Excellence for Teaching, Learning and Training to develop, host and manage credit-linked online courses. The unit will collaborate with universities and other higher education institutions, approved skilling agencies under the State-run Centre for Skill Development Courses and Career Planning, and subject experts to create a digital learning ecosystem.

A unique feature of the platform is its cost-free model for students. Since it will be calculated as part of the teaching responsibility of teachers, the students will not be required to pay additional payment for courses.

The platform will also feature transparent assessment mechanisms. It is envisaged to feature robust support for online proctored examinations, and, when necessary, physical examinations at designated centres.

Universities will have the flexibility to integrate these courses into their baskets, open them for student registration and also conduct external examinations, whenever necessary. Internal marks can also be shared with universities to ensure smooth credit transfer and recognition. The proposed framework will enable students to secure extra credits and access courses that are not available in their own colleges.