To maintain quality, Ahmedabad University reduces seats in ISP programme

In a major decision to maintain student-teacher ratio, Ahmedabad University has reduced its seats in its Independent Study Programe that allows students to take short courses. Inter-disciplinary culture is the key to modern education and going by the same, in 2016, AU had designed a unique programme that allows students to take courses to develop skill, other than their academic curriculum.

ISP conceptualised by Learning Initiatives department at the university offers a range of learning opportunities not available during the regular curricular periods of the semesters. The offerings include block courses, studio inspired experiential courses, courses on perspective and skill building, innovative experiments in learning and more.

While the programme was highly appreciated by the students, the university this year has reduced the seats from 1,100 to 600.

Speaking about the same, professor Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor, Ahmedabad University said, "ISP programme has been getting very good response. However, we do not want to compromise on the quality of the courses and to maintain a good teacher-student ratio, we have reduced the seats from 1100 to 600 this year for 32 courses."

Interestingly, ISP this year has some contemporary courses like 'Beyond Pink and Blue – Re-imagining Masculinities and Feminities conducted by Saptam Patel which would expose students to various environments and see things beyond their own social sphere.

Another course 'Design a museum of your dreams' by Poulomi Das who has held projects like Bihar museum project in Patna, Mumbai national museum, Gujarat Sewa, etc. Under this course, students will learn about types of museums, oral histories and share their findings to different communities through the museum of their dreams they want to design it.

ISP 2016 was spread across three weeks and first year students from all disciplines had signed up to take 30 courses that range from Design Thinking to the Art of Argumentation from the Mahabharata.

SOME NEW COURSES:

• Beyond Pink and Blue – Re-imagining Masculinities and Feminities
   
• Design a museum of your dreams
   
• Drone development programme
   
• Film appreciation course by FTII
   
• The Puppet Lab