SWAYAM as a Contingency Plan for Future Pandemics

Abstract

This research aims to explore the SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) initiative of the Indian government as a contingency plan to prevent the educational damages that transpired worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary data was assiduously analysed to cover all the facets of SWAYAM concerning the courses offered and the number of enrollments. The data is analysed to determine the following aspects of SWAYAM as a contingency plan: learner willingness, institutional involvement, education level dissemination, discipline spectrum, the collection of courses, geographical coverage, and sustainability of courses. The study found the SWAYAM program’s feasibility in learner willingness, institutional involvement, education level dissemination, discipline spectrum, and various courses. However, there are discrepancies in the geographical coverage and sustainability of courses. This study concludes the SWAYAM program as a viable contingency plan across India and worldwide during a future pandemic by refining the ambiguities and closing the loopholes. The analysis of this study is broad research that refers only to the SWAYAM project for MOOCs in India. This study attempts to apply the Indian MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform, SWAYAM, as a contingency plan for future pandemics and not repeat the colossal damages the educational sector incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.