In order to boost the Digital India scheme, all the five Universities of Jharkhand will be digitalised by January 2016 if things go as per the plans of Department of Higher and Technical Education. However, there are few hindrances which might linger the ambitious plan.
Giving details about the implementation of plans, Secretary Higher and Technical Education Ajoy Kumar Singh, said, “For the university level, there is a provision for National Knowledge Network (NKN). NKN is a multi-gigabit pan-India network for providing a unified high speed network backbone for all knowledge related institutions in the country. And as far as trained technical manpower is concerned, we are going to arrange workshop for imparting technical knowledge to the people associated with the university in the coming month.”
For ‘Innovative learning’ all the universities have been directed to establish digital libraries, Wi-Fi campuses. The universities have also been instructed to make a proposal for buying I-pads for the student to access the e- book. The universities will record all the lectures and upload it on university’s server for students use.
Citing detail about the deadline and problems, Kolhan University Vice Chancellor RPP Singh, said, “So far we have digitalized our examination system only. However, many things are yet to be done. As far as deadline is concerned, we are doubtful that the entire process will be completed in the given time frame. The long procedure involves allocation of funds, filling tenders, bidding, recruiting appropriate manpower.”
Similarly, Sido Kanhu Murmu University Vice Chancellor, Kamar Ahashan, said, “Though we have floated the tender but our University is located in interior area in Dumka and as a result we do not have telecom line. We also need to outsource manpower who are technically sound. Internet connectivity is a big issue in the area. But we have sent the proposal to the concerned department and are managing things.”
On the other hand Vice Chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University, Gurdeep Singh also feels that there are lots of things which need to be sorted out. “Apart from funds, procurement of hardware and software are important. We have given e-library facility to the students and have made several online provisions. Presently we are working towards the digitalisation process and have submitted the proposal to the authorities. But the process will require time, as digitalization involves several aspects.”
The Department of higher and technical education has planned to introduce ‘innovative learning’ at university level and has directed all the universities to work towards the plans.
The letter has been sent to all the five state universities including Ranchi University, Kolhan University, Vinoba Bhave University, Sidhu Kanhu Murmu University and Nilamber Pitamber University along with BIT Sindri regarding the innovative learning.