‘MA Sociology is the first-ever fully online PG course’: Director of Centre for Distance Education, Mumbai University
Dr Shivaji Sargar, Director of CDOE, told The Indian Express about the growing demand for such online courses and how it is driving development of more such fully online programmes that will be available to students regardless of geographic locations which is also expected to help reverse decreasing student enrolment at the CDOE.
5 min read
The MA in Sociology is just a pilot project, and the early response has been very encouraging, said Dr Shivaji Sargar, Director of CDOE.Amid ongoing admissions, Mumbai University’s Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) has launched its first ever fully online course–Master of Arts (MA) in Sociology. It has already received nearly 70 admissions, which is more than total admissions for the same course offered in traditional distance mode. Dr Shivaji Sargar, Director of CDOE, told Pallavi Smart about the growing demand for such online courses and how it is driving development of more such fully online programmes that will be available to students regardless of geographic locations which is also expected to help reverse decreasing student enrolment at the CDOE.
Q. What is fully online MA in Sociology and why the course was launched?
This is the first-ever fully online postgraduate course. From admissions to the declaration of results, every process is conducted entirely online. Students can enrol via the university portal, access audio-visual and written study material, take short quizzes, and receive academic support—all at their own pace. Assessments include online assignment submissions and proctored online exams. At no point will students need to visit the CDOE office or any study centre, not even to collect materials or attend examinations.
The course was launched in response to the growing demand for flexible online education. Many distance learners are professionals or individuals balancing work, family, or other responsibilities, making it difficult to attend regular classes or follow a rigid academic schedule. With the flexibility to learn at their convenience, the fully online format has proven to be a compelling option. In fact, the number of admissions to the online MA in Sociology has already surpassed those of the same course offered through the traditional distance mode—which indicates a shift in student preferences. Under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Dr Ravindra Kulkarni, CDOE is now working to introduce more fully online courses to meet this demand.
Q. Which other courses are in the pipeline, and when will they be launched?
The MA in Sociology is just a pilot project, and the early response has been very encouraging. CDOE is planning to launch four to five new fully online programmes in a phased manner. Before expanding further, we aim to ensure the current course runs smoothly, particularly through the completion of its first semester. Content development is currently underway, and we’re using our in-house studio and technical team—alongside subject experts—to create high-quality, engaging course materials.
Some short-term or certificate courses will be ready by January-February, open to all students who wish to earn credits. Full-fledged programmes such as B Com, M Com, MSc in Mathematics and MA in English are expected to be ready for launch by the next admission season.
Q. Students in distance mode often complain about delays in study material and results. Is CDOE addressing these concerns?
Yes. Nationally, the Samarth portal has been introduced to provide centralised services for admissions and other logistics. Mumbai University and CDOE are actively using this portal and have a dedicated team in place to coordinate with Samarth officials to promptly resolve any technical issues.
Moreover, we follow a one-year lag in implementing curricular changes to allow adequate preparation time. For example, although the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was rolled out across the university in 2023–24, CDOE implemented it only last year, giving us ample time to prepare study materials and online learning resources.
We have also introduced online induction programmes for all newly admitted students to help them navigate the system and understand how to access support. These are stream-specific and supported by comprehensive FAQs available online. This academic year, we have tied up with local colleges in districts like Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri to set up Learning Support Centres, reducing the need for students to travel to Mumbai. Additionally, we are planning to resume offline weekend sessions, suspended during the pandemic, to improve engagement between students, faculty, and university staff.
Q. Student enrolment at CDOE has been decreasing. What steps are being taken to address this?
It is true that student enrolment has declined post-Covid. One key reason is the shift from annual to semester-based examination systems, in line with UGC norms. Previously, students only needed to appear once a year for exams. Now, they have to take exams twice annually, which can be challenging for working professionals who find it difficult to take leave or commit time consistently.
While we are working to retain the student enrolment, the newer options of flexible, attractive and fully online programmes are promising to increase it further. There is significant demand for online learning today, we aim to meet that demand. Significant enrolment for the first ever fully-online MA in Sociology courses is a proof. Over 70 students have already enrolled for the fully-online course, in addition to just over 60 in the traditional distance mode. This has already doubled the number of students studying Sociology at CDOE compared to last year. We expect similar trends as more fully online courses are introduced.
You May Like
