Conduct of the Distance Learning Programme
1 What is the courseware and reference material issued to the students?
The Institute prepares specific courseware suitable for the program for each of the
courses and issues the same to the student at the beginning of each semester. In addition,
the Institute through the courtesy of the Nautical Institute, UK, has published some
of their publications for exclusive use of our students. The Institute has also published
a subsidised edition of a book by Mr J. K. Dhar on marine engineering and Magnetism and
Gyro by Capt Sarma. All these are issued to the students free of charge. Students are
also issued technical journals so that they can send their assignments in a compact form.
These should be preserved as your records.
2 Why do I have to be at sea for some time during the programme?
Distance learning programme is conducted for professionals as an on going study. It
is an essential condition that the student should be working in the environment of practical
learning and acquisition of underpinning knowledge. This requirement was three months
in every semester but is now amended to twelve months sea service in semesters D to H.
This concession should allow students to use their leave period also to complete studies
and generally plan their learning effort better.
3 How does the Institute provide support to the students?
At the time of joining each student is invited for a briefing session. The faculty in
Kalkota, New Delhi and Chennai can also provide such sessions. These sessions instruct
the students on the process that they should follow. Students are encouraged to call
personally on the faculty at any time with prior appointment. However, they can communicate
by e-mail at any time with a copy to the Course Coordinator. The technical journal is
provided as a tool to maintain such communication. The faculty evaluates your assignments
and provides the student with a feedback. The faculty shall also answer your queries
on any related questions.
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4 How and when should the journals be sent for assessment?
- The students of Phase 1 should submit their journals - one every month - through
their Master /CTO. However, students of Phase 2 should as far as practicable send
the journals on a monthly basis either through the ship's mail or directly to us if
ashore. How is my learning process monitored?
- The faculty at the Institute is responsible for
monitoring your progress. The tasks planner issued with the courseware shows the
tasks to be completed. Students should answer them in the technical journals. The faculty
shall evaluate these and return with their suggestions for improvement. Faculty shall
mark these tasks and they shall provide corrections where required. Where your performance
is below 'Fair' you shall be required to rewrite the tasks with the suggested improvement.
It is expected that the tasks allotted shall be completed in six months. The student
can take the comprehensive examination either on board ship or in the Institute's
offices. The examination is an open book.
- Comprehensive examination is conducted in the last
month of each semester. A failure in any course(subject) shall mean that you may
not be permitted to commence the next semester and you shall be required to take the
examination for that course again.
5 Do we have to complete a semester in six months?
Yes the semester should be completed in six months. However you can plan your studies
in such a manner that not only complete the tasks in but also complete the examination
in that time. If your studies were likely to take longer it would be necessary for you
to inform us and seek an extension with justification for the same. In any case if a
semester is not completed in a maximum of eight calendar months then the programme of
the student is liable to be terminated.
6 If I compete a semester at sea, how can I start the next semester?
Students are declared successful in a semester if he completes the following:
- Is serving at sea
- Completed the journal work as explained above and obtained at least
'Fair' grade in each of the courses, and
- Passed the examination with at least 'Fair" grade.
- The Institute monitors your
progress continuously. On completion of your assessment of each semester, the Institute
will authorise you to continue with the next semester...
- However this would require
some planning on your part. You have to pay the fees for the next semester and
collect the courseware before you go on board.
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7 Can I submit my journals by using word processor?
§ Neither journals nor answer books of examination can be submitted by using the
word processor, the reasons being we want you to write them in your own hand in a well-planned
manner. However, use of word processors is optional in the last two semesters and compulsory
for the presentation of the project to be submitted in the last semester.
8 How is the
comprehensive examinations conducted at the end of the semester?
- Students in co-operation with the Master are required to appear for the examination
on board. Examination can be taken any time in the sixth month after the journal
work in a particular course has been completed (even though not assessed)
- In Phase 2, since
there are five courses with an examination for four hours each this has to be planned
carefully without disturbing the ship's routine. The question papers along with their blank answer
sheets are packed in a sealed envelope and handed over to the master for safe keeping. The student
shall decide on the course he wishes to be examined and request the master for the concerned
papers. The examination is open book and only be monitored to ensure that no other
person assists the student and that he completes in the time given. The answer scripts
are submitted to the master who is requested to seal them and forward them to us.
- Examinations can also be given if you are on leave. However,
the Institute makes arrangements for the same. A notice of at least 10 days is
desired. The examinations are held at the Institutes or its offices in Kalkota, Chennai
or New Delhi.
9 Where the Course on 'Research Methodology' would be conducted?
All students studying in semester F & G are required to attend the Course on 'Research
Methodology'. The Course may at Kalkota, Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai. Dates for the
course are declared in advance and it would be desirable that students book the same
in advance. Further details are furnished when the Course programme is finalised.
10 What is "Remedial Course"?
The entire BS course is of eight semesters. BITS, Pilani has agreed to allow officers,
who did not have the opportunity to complete the Phase 1 of the programme and therefore
decided to remedy the deficiency by introducing the Remedial Course. The Remedial Course
includes selected modules from the 'Merchant shipping and includes selected CRB tasks.
. The Remedial Course can be completed at student's pace in the first two semesters preferably
when serving at sea...
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11 How does a student know if he has cleared the
semester?
The semester status report is sent to the student on successful completion of each semester.
He is also informed from time to time on his performance in the submission of tasks.
12 How can I get assistance from the faculty when
I need it?
The faculty can assist you through the following:
- You can submit queries in the journals
and they shall be answered,
- You can E mail to the Institute and the faculty would
send the answer back by E mail, if the facility is available.
- You can telephone the
faculty.
- You can call on the faculty at Kalkota, Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai. Whenever
you do that please carry your journals with you so that the faculty can also guide
you on your progress.
- The Institute shall prefer you calling on the faculty even if
you do not have any queries as the Institute also learns from your experience.
13 What do I do if I have any more doubts?
The Institute is always available to help. Please contact us.
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