The Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (IP University) has launched the eighth cycle of its postgraduate-level online course “Society and Media” on the SWAYAM platform of the Ministry of Education, drawing over 1,700 enrolments from across the country.

Carrying four academic credits, the course has steadily expanded its reach since its launch in 2019, when it became the first postgraduate-level Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) offered by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Over seven completed cycles, it has engaged more than 10,000 learners nationwide.

Structured as a 15-week programme, the course features around 40 modules covering themes such as media representation, social stereotyping, digital participation, media literacy, and the role of media in driving social change. It also critically examines media engagement with issues of caste, class, gender, religion, and regional identities.

Offered under the university’s mass communication programme, the course is coordinated by Prof. Durgesh Tripathi and is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, emphasising interdisciplinary learning. Students who successfully complete the programme are eligible for credit transfer.

The curriculum has been developed with inputs from faculty and experts affiliated with leading institutions, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Delhi, Indira Gandhi National Open University, and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

According to the university, the course has also been ranked among the top 100 online courses globally by Class Central. The latest cycle continues to attract learners from diverse academic backgrounds, underlining the growing appeal of interdisciplinary media studies in an online format.