Amid COVID lockdown, 175 officer trainees finish foundation course via online

According to a press release, the OTs were provided access to “Udemy for Government”, an online portal having a bouquet of 4,000 courses. This intervention enabled them to diversify and enrich their knowledge and skills, thereby enhancing their productivity.

Over 60 virtual sessions spread over 45 days, an array of 14 assignments, trek and village visit presentations, counselor group meetings, army symposium, civil services day and different examinations, all via virtual mode, were instrumental in ensuring that the learning on the part of the OTs was continuous and long-lasting, added the press release.

Retired bureaucrats and senior academicians from across the globe addressed the OTs as resource persons, whereas services of several eminent persons were utilized for the evaluation of assignments submitted by the OTs.

A much bigger challenge was to organize several fun-filled tasks, including FETE- The Mela, India Day, and cultural evening via virtual mode. However, the OTs collaborated seamlessly and displayed their hidden talents in singing, dancing, music, etc and showcased India’s unity in diversity, the press release added.

The OTs also corganised several fun-filled tasks, including FETE- The Mela, India Day, and cultural evening via virtual mode and showcased India’s unity in diversity. Photo: Prof Md Abbas Ali

“Thanks to the power of online training, the distances melted away, the OTs worked closely, and developed a feeling of working together under the same roof, despite being dispersed across the country. It had as powerful an impact as the conventional training, both in terms of learning and at the same time enjoying its journey” opined the OTs
unanimously.

Senior IAS officer, BP Acharya, the Director-General of the Institute & Special Chief Secretary to Government, said that while conventional training has got its own strengths, online training is the need of the hour, especially in the post-COVID-19 scenario. “The success of the foundation courses, via virtual mode, calls for its wider use for government employees in the future,” stated Acharya.

Prof. Md Abbas Ali, Academic Coordinator, Special, FC coordinated the virtual sessions by using such online platforms as “Cisco WebEx” and, an indigenously developed one, “Impartus”. The foundation course ends on May 15.