Rajahmundry, Oct 22nd: Gitam University has identified 30 colleges in the State, three of them in East Godavari district, for setting up centre for distance learning (CDL). Informing this to newsmen here on Wednesday, university’s Joint Director for CDL Tanuku Srinivas said that they had a MoU with V.S. Lakshmi College, Kakinada, S.K.B.R. College, Amalapuram, and Jasti Bullemmai College, Rajahmundry, for setting up the facility.

He said that the CDLs would be opened in this academic year. They would offer two UG (B.A., B.Com.) and five PG (MBA, MCA, MA, M.Com, and M.Sc.) courses. PG diploma courses in Environment and Sustainable Management, Communication Skills, Communicative English and Computer Applications would also be offered. Mr. Srinivas said that the Distance Education Council had given permission to launch CDLs and that the degrees offered by them were equal to those offered by other universities. He said that CDLs would benefit job-holders, housewives and part-timers. The university wanted to allow SSC failed or passed students to complete their graduation through CDL courses.

On the fee structure, he said the MBA programme though CDL would cost only Rs.30, 000. It would cost Rs.1.50 lakh in any other institution, he claimed. Stating that there would not be any compromise on the quality front, Mr. Srinivas said that the students would be supplied IGNOU material. He said that web and e-mail based contact classes along with regular classes would be offered. Examinations and classes would be conducted at all CDLs. Jasti Janardhana Murthy of Jasti Bullemmai College for Women was also present.