BRAC University is to create an online learning platform named “buX” for its students. This educational platform will be built on a world-class platform developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University.
It will allow all BRAC university students to learn wherever they are staying, whatever their internet connectivity quality is, and it will make online learning interactive and lively, said a press release by BRAC University.
“We recognized the issues with online learning in the Spring 2020 session, and have thus implemented this industrial, high-grade solution,” BRAC University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Vincent Chang stated it in the press release.
Prof Vincent Chang also added, “Online learning on buX will be different from the version of online learning with faculty conducting sessions over Zoom. It is much more.”
BRAC University is going to develop the learning platform at ‘edX’, which is a transformational new partnership in online education. ‘edX’ released its learning platform as open-source software so it can be used by other universities and organizations who wish to host the platform themselves. Because the learning technology is available as open-source software, so other universities and individuals are able to help edX improve and add features to the technology.
Part of buX’s functionality is to facilitate online learning even with irregular connectivity. To make learning more feasible for students with poor internet connectivity BRAC University is working to find proper solutions. These include internet packs and broadband solutions in some cases. BRAC University also said in necessary cases, the university will provide hardware for the most at-risk students.
BRAC University has already waived all non-tuition fees for its Summer 2020 session for all students. Additionally, a Student Assistance Fund was freshly authorized to support students who are experiencing bad situation due to the continuous COVID-19 pandemic, with financial and other aids.
The total commitment is 15 crore BDT (1.8 million USD), or equivalent to 25% of total tuition and fees.
