Educational Multimedia Research Centre, Kolkata
Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC), Kolkata, besides being the only multimedia centre of University Grants Commission hosted by an undergraduate college, is also acknowledged as a significant player in the evolution of India’s ‘knowledge Society’ and a vibrant stakeholder of Online Education.
The Centre’s core activity is the development of the educational knowledge resources for multiple digital platforms — video, multimedia and web-portals. Most of these are syllabus oriented, developed with the help of renowned faculties of reputed colleges and universities.
EMRC bridges the gap between eminent teacher/resource persons based in or visiting the city and students from all over the country by uploading lectures on demands through the SWAYAM platform (developed by MHRD). Students not only receive the lecture from their base locations but also have the option of interacting live with the experts.
MHRD has recently launched Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) through the SWAYAM platform. SWAYAM is the world’s largest online free e-learning platform portal designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of the Education Policy viz., Access, Equity and Quality by covering school/vocational, under-graduate, post graduate, engineering and other professional courses.
Consortium of Educational Communication (CEC), New Delhi, has been designated as one of the core central institutes for development and delivery of MOOCs. Under the guidance of CEC, EMRC Kolkata has made several MOOC Courses since 2017 for the undergraduate level in compliance with CBCS Structure in a variety of subjects such as History, Political Science, Microbiology, Film Studies, Botany, Public Administration, TV and Radio Journalism to name a few.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, EMRC Kolkata initiated the ‘Wisdom Online- A Digital Learning Experience Platform’. The main attraction of this e-learning corner was the Google Classroom that the centre had specially designed for the undergraduate and postgraduate students.
A two-day online academic seminar called ‘Moocolloquium’ was organized by the Centre on 22nd and 23rd September, 2020 on “The Prospects, Challenges and Development of MOOC”, where faculties from all over the country participated. Among the reputed speakers of this online seminar was the Joint Director of CEC, Mr. Nageswar Nath, the Academic Coordinator of CEC, Dr. Asmita Bakshi, and Dr Arup Kumar Mitra, Professor of Microbiology, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. Staff members from EMRC Kolkata also participated in a four-day online workshop on “Visual Design” organized by EMRC Pune to upgrade their skills in visual design.
EMRC Kolkata is in the process of building its studio. With the completion of the studio, EMRC Kolkata would realize its dream of carrying out full HD production from its own studio. It is a matter of great pride that it would be the very first full-scale HD facility in the city.
With its high spirited, technically equipped and dedicated personnel, EMMRC Kolkata continues to march forward towards its mission of spreading wisdom far and wide through technology enabled education.
