The Hindu : UGC proposal for better connectivity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

UGC proposal for better connectivity

IT IS the latest on the notice board of the University Grants Commission's website. And although not many in university circle seem to know about it, the UGC's latest proposal is one with the ability to change the face of higher education if evolved and implemented properly.

The UGC's Higher Education Information Systems Project aims at not just computerising the various processes to improve efficiency but also connect the UGC with universities, colleges and the various centres involved in higher education. But most important, it hopes to streamline admission procedures, make market-student interaction possible and

evolve a national qualification framework.

Considering that all these are issues that will probably have some sections of the universities expressing their reservations, it is likely to be long before the picture gets clear, as the UGC's invitation for the proposals will be followed by discussions and debates on the proposals presented by various consultants.

What is interesting, however, are the various things that the UGC believes can be "achieved" through the project.

The Grants Management System, apart from mentioning monitoring of flow of grants, rendition of accounts and utilisation, also speaks of criteria-based funding for institutions maintained by the UGC, monitoring through performance radars, online submission of proposals and their monitoring till sanctions under various schemes. The UGC has also touched upon the need to evolve a comprehensive national qualification framework for institutions, although it does not elaborate.

Since the proposal is aimed at bringing out the scope of work or terms of

reference (TOR) including the vision, stakeholder requirements, architecture and other aspects to allow what the UGC terms as a level playing field for evaluation, the coming months will show how much of the UGC's plans of going virtual can be converted into reality.

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THE BIRLA Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) has set up a Cisco Gigabit backbone network across its 328-acre campus to provide next generation information and communication services to its students and faculty.

Achieved following the completion of its project "Neuron - Interconnecting Minds" , the BITS now provides broadband access, IP telephony, streaming media and videoconferencing facilities in student rooms, hostels, staff quarters and the guesthouse, as well as wireless access in select areas of the campus.

Over 4,000 students have been provided with the infrastructure to aid and enhance their learning with the flexibility to study, research and communicate outside the confines of their classrooms including their rooms, cafeteria and library being available to students here.

"Having the nation's largest captive backbone infrastructure will enhance BITS Distance Learning Program Division (DLPD), offer media-rich content to over 7,500 students. Our DLPD is already Number One in India and now we can look forward to a successful expansion of the Virtual University concept allowing students, faculty, research and organisations to collaborate with no geographical and time zone constraints," says the Vice-Chancellor of BITS (Pilani), Dr. S. Venkateswaran.

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FOURTEEN STUDENTS were awarded the Jamia Teacher's Scholarship at a glittering function at the Jamia Millia Islamia University on Wednesday. Instituted by the Jamia Teachers' Association (JTA) two years ago, the fund for the scholarship is generated through monthly contributions by the teachers.

Awarded on the basis of the decision of the interview board constituted by the JTA, seven students were given the scholarship for ten months and seven students for a grant of Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 5,000.

Lakshmi Balakrishnan

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