Integrating SWAYAM-NPTEL in Higher Education: Students’ Awareness, Perceived Benefits and Adoption Barriers

The SWAYAM-NPTEL platform represents a transformative initiative in India’s digital education landscape. This study investigates students’ awareness, participation patterns, and perceived benefits of SWAYAM-NPTEL courses while identifying critical barriers to adoption across different institutional types. Using a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed 150 undergraduate and postgraduate students from three higher education institutions and conducted focus group discussions with 24 participants. Results reveal moderate awareness (60%) but low active participation (40%), with significant differences between technical and non-technical students. While 80% of enrolled students recognized the value of IIT/IISc faculty expertise and 72% appreciated learning flexibility, key barriers—including lack of institutional support (45%), poor connectivity (38%), and curriculum misalignment (35%)—hinder adoption. The study proposes an institutional integration framework emphasizing curricular alignment, faculty mentorship, and infrastructure investment to maximize SWAYAM-NPTEL’s educational potential.