PATNA: The Union information technology ministry has approved the proposal of Patna University (PU) for networking of the entire campus. A communication to this effect has been received by PU recently.
PU computer centre chief K P Singh told this newspaper that initially a sum of Rs 8 crore has been sanctioned by the central government for the networking of Patna Science College, PU office and library, Patna College and Darbhanga House complex. Optical fibres would be laid in the entire area for having a fast communication facility on the campus. This networking, along with Wi-Fi connectivity, would increase the speed of internet, benefiting the researchers and faculties besides students of different colleges and postgraduate departments in PU, he said.
PU vice-chancellor G K Chaudhary has also initiated necessary steps for setting up an IT cell on the campus for automation of all office works and computerization of admission and examinations. PU would have its own UMIS (university management information system) facilitating complete automation of all its activities, he added.
Meanwhile, with the recent initiatives taken by the chancellor as well as the state government, the universities and colleges in Bihar are gradually adopting digital technology for facilitating online classes and other academic activities. Educational institutions have started taking advantage of the various schemes floated by the Union ministry of higher education. The chancellor’s secretariat has already approved all various schemes, including Swayam (Study Webs of Active learning for Young Aspiring Minds), Swayam Prabha, Arpit (Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching), Virtual Labs, e-Yantra and National Digital Library, to be undertaken by the universities and colleges.
Raj Bhavan sources said the universities have been directed to link ‘Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching’ with the career advancement of teachers and organize workshops so that teachers might be made aware of this innovative scheme. The UGC has already granted equivalence to ARPIT courses on par with Refresher Courses for the purpose of Career Advancement Scheme. Furthermore, universities have also been asked to develop necessary infrastructure for setting up virtual labs with a view to providing students remote access to laboratories in various subjects of science and engineering. The state education department would provide necessary funds to the institutions for the purpose, sources said.
Patna University has already adopted some of these programmes and started imparting online education through Swayam Prabha. Efforts are also being made to link PU with the National Digital Library, said PU’s deputy librarian Ashok Kumar Jha.