Changing face of admissions in universities during Covid times
Image used for representational purpose only BHUBANESWAR: Universities and other higher educational institutions in the state have started the admission process by inviting applications for entrance examinations and holding online tests to admit students into different courses. But the admission process has witnessed several changes after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world.
While some deemed to be universities and private higher educational institutions (HEIs) have conducted online tests and counselling, government universities are bringing some changes to make some process online and follow the health department guidelines while conducting examinations and admission.
Asoka Kumar Das, vice chairman of Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC), said students were frequently coming to department of universities and colleges for admission and other queries during pre-corona days. "But it will not happen this year. After getting the merit list of students, the respective departments of the universities and colleges will call the students in phased manner for admission by maintaining physical distance," he added.
He said the state government is conducting a common PG entrance test for the first time for students who want admission in different PG courses. "Previously, students were applying and sitting for entrance examinations separately for different government colleges and universities. But now they will apply online for different institutions and sit for one entrance test. This new system will immensely help us during the pandemic situation," he added.
Sharat Kumar Majhi, controller of examinations, Utkal University, said the higher education department had decided to conduct the entrance test in 10 universities only. "But the number of examination centres has been increased to 30 keeping the pandemic situation in mind. Objective of this change is to accommodate less number of students inside the examination halls," he added.
He said the department has adopted another new thing in view of the Covid situation. "The students, who are interested to join Plus III first year, need not to visit their college for filling up of validation form like previous years. They can fill it via online," he added.
Sasmita Samanta, registrar of KIIT, said her institution has completed all entrance examinations online successfully. "After publication of the results, we have conducted online counselling for admission into different departments. Because of our smooth online process, students need not to visit our campus during this pandemic," she added.
Samanta said online counselling has been started for engineering, law and biotechnology courses. "We have started online classes for management courses. We will also start online classes for other courses soon," she added.
While some deemed to be universities and private higher educational institutions (HEIs) have conducted online tests and counselling, government universities are bringing some changes to make some process online and follow the health department guidelines while conducting examinations and admission.
Asoka Kumar Das, vice chairman of Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC), said students were frequently coming to department of universities and colleges for admission and other queries during pre-corona days. "But it will not happen this year. After getting the merit list of students, the respective departments of the universities and colleges will call the students in phased manner for admission by maintaining physical distance," he added.
He said the state government is conducting a common PG entrance test for the first time for students who want admission in different PG courses. "Previously, students were applying and sitting for entrance examinations separately for different government colleges and universities. But now they will apply online for different institutions and sit for one entrance test. This new system will immensely help us during the pandemic situation," he added.
Sharat Kumar Majhi, controller of examinations, Utkal University, said the higher education department had decided to conduct the entrance test in 10 universities only. "But the number of examination centres has been increased to 30 keeping the pandemic situation in mind. Objective of this change is to accommodate less number of students inside the examination halls," he added.
He said the department has adopted another new thing in view of the Covid situation. "The students, who are interested to join Plus III first year, need not to visit their college for filling up of validation form like previous years. They can fill it via online," he added.
Sasmita Samanta, registrar of KIIT, said her institution has completed all entrance examinations online successfully. "After publication of the results, we have conducted online counselling for admission into different departments. Because of our smooth online process, students need not to visit our campus during this pandemic," she added.
Samanta said online counselling has been started for engineering, law and biotechnology courses. "We have started online classes for management courses. We will also start online classes for other courses soon," she added.
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