IIT video lectures get 80 million hits on Youtube

The video lectures posted by the Indian Institute of Technology, on Youtube has hit a new record of over 80 million viewers. Initiated in 2003, The NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) has over 280 uploaded video-only courses that have seen 18 million users access the lectures, 80 million views and 1.26 lakh visitors (a drastic rise from the 6,728 visitors in 2009).

With viewers in the millions, there are many aspirants who would like to apply for the IITs. The number of seats, however, is limited. The NPTEL was set up with the intention to provide IIT level education that is free and easily accessible. Now, students from over 800 colleges across the country can access the 600 page course content on the web in written or video format. The IITs are now planning to expand this platform by developing and adding another 400 web-based and 200 video-based courses. 

This program reaches out to those students who may qualify for IIT but do not receive admission. Those students can now access the same information for free. IIT – Madras, the hub of the NPTEL, estimates that both web and video courses have been accessed by over 14.6 million students in India, under a million in the US and a lakh from Pakistan and the UK. That is close to 79 percent viewership from India, 16 percent from the US and the rest of the countries make up the remaining 5 percent.

The top ten courses accessed are - basic electronics, data structures and algorithms, quantum physics, database management system, biochemistry, fluid mechanics, surveying, discrete mathematical structures, digital circuits & systems, and software engineering.

The project, funded by the Minstry of HRD and supported by the National Mission on Education through ICT (Information and Communication Technology) through the Ministry, covers major engineering streams like electrical, civil, mechanical, chemical, electronics and communication, aerospace, automobile and computer science and engineering. Although most of the course content is at the undergraduate level, content for basic science, humanities and management postgraduate courses are being added.

NPTEL is gathering feedback from all its viewers and users on what needs to be added, on how effective the course is and will be publishing the collected report on its website.

The NPTEL has over 1,500 faculty members from the IIT contributing to it. In addition to which, it has struck up partnerships with various reputed institutes and have several who are interested to contribute. This makes it one of the largest online programs on the web today.

Source: The Indian Express