Sikkim Manipal University-Directorate of Distance Education (SMU-DE) was conferred the 'Digital Learning ICT Enabled University of the Year' for its new technology infused learning system “EduNxt” at the 5th e-India 2009 Awards Conference and exhibition organised by Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies in Hyderabad on August 26, 2009.

Mr. Anand Sudarshan, MD & CEO, Manipal Education, said, “We are honoured to have received this commendation from e-India 2009. This recognization re-affirms our commitment in using technology to drive the next level in education and making high quality education affordable and accessible through the length and breadth of our country.”

EduNxt is a new technology – infused learning system that has transformed distributed learning across India. EduNxt functions on the principle of 3As + 4Cs. The 3 As of Affordability, Accessibility and Appropriateness are the guideline to scaling up EduNxt across distributed learning. Meanwhile, the 4Cs of Content, Collaboration, Communication and Computing are the basis of developing EduNxt into a means of disseminating educating across the length and breadth of our country.

EduNxt has been launched, for the first time in Distance Education, for Sikkim Manipal University’s Distance Education students. The primary objective is to provide SMU-DE students with a plethora of resources so they learn through sharing and collaboration. Another important objective behind the development of EduNxt is to open a channel of communication between the 4+ lac students on the rolls of SMU-DE and the University faculty and approx. 6,500 committed and qualified counselors across the University’s authorised study centres in order to utilise their varied expertise and vast experience. Over 75,000 students log on EduNxt today.

The EduNxt platform is an easy to use delivery system. It enables a collaborative and interactive environment for learning and includes small group mentoring, virtual classrooms, simulation, self-study content, recorded presentations and shared browsing.