More than 40 applications have been received by the cluster innovation centre of Delhi University (DU) for the first course under ‘meta university’. The course, which will take off in January 2013 nearly six months after its proposed deadline, has been the initiative of Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) and DU.

Pankaj Tayagi, associate professor at cluster innovation centre and coordinator for meta university, says the response has been good so far. “It’s a noble concept where facilities and faculties will be available from different universities and students can get the best of them. It is best for those who want to move away from the conventional methodology.” Pankaj says there has been a delay but the course could not have been started before approval from the academic council.

The two-year master degree course will be divided into four semesters and will have 20 seats, 10 each for DU and JMI. The degree will have the names of both the universities.

Madan Chaturvedi, head of the cluster innovation centre, says 40 applications have been received by DU alone and same number is expected at JMI. He says the number of application is expected to increase further.

“Students have some queries related to the value of the course. We want to tell them that this course is not equivalent to a master’s in mathematics but it is a master’s in mathematics education,” he said, adding, “this is for those who want to be educators and can take up NET exam later”.

The admission process for the meta university course between Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia — master’s in mathematical education — began on October 29. Students from across the country can seek admission to the course. The last date for application submission is November 14. There will be an all-India entrance test for the same. The cluster innovation centre (DU), central institute of education (DU) and the mass communication research centre (JMI) will offer papers for the course. Projects will be guided by faculties in both the universities. The proposed day for conducting the entrance test for the course is December 2 and the course is set to begin on January 3, 2013.

The meta university project was announced by the prime minister in 2011 and it has been given shape by four universities in Delhi — Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), JMI, DU and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

IIT Delhi and JNU are not part of this course. They will take another six months to be part of the meta university concept. Madan said that two courses – master’s in public health and climate change – will start from July 2013 with the collaboration of all the four universities.