The University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled two new Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) focused on arctic and polar studies, available on the SWAYAM portal. The courses, titled “Understanding the Arctic: Climate and Environmental Protection” and “Polar Science, Arctic Governance, Policy, and Law,” will commence on July 18, 2024, and run for 15 weeks.

Registration for these courses is open for the July 2024 semester on the official SWAYAM website (swayam.gov.in). Enrollment ends on August 31, with exams scheduled for December 14 and 15, respectively.

According to an official notice from the UGC, the course on “Polar Science, Arctic Governance, Policy, and Law” will explore various aspects of polar governance and legislation. Similarly, the “Understanding the Arctic – Climate and the Need for Environmental Protection” course will address climate issues and environmental protection in the Arctic region.

These courses have been developed by the UGC Subject Matter Expert Committee to align with the six pillars of the Arctic Policy of India, ensuring they are comprehensive and relevant to current global and regional policies.