Virtual classrooms for State varsities

Colleges and universities in Bihar are likely to introduce the concept of virtual classrooms thanks to the initiative taken by the Rajbhawan. According to the scheme, all the universities and colleges will be linked with each other and also with the Rajbhawan through video-conferencing. The The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is likely to be made the nodal agency for development of information and communication technology infrastructure in all the 12 universities of the state. Disclosing this at the inaugural function of a day-long workshop organised at NIC office here on Saturday, OSD to governor R Krishna Kumar said lectures delivered by reputed teachers of one institution can be attended by the students of all other institutions through video-conferencing to be facilitated by NIC district centres. Besides, university officials could also interact with college principals or other functionaries and redress the grievances of teachers, employees and students through this process, he said. The workshop was attended by the examination controllers, librarians and computer science faculty members of all the universities. A thorough discussion on implementation of Chanakya (examination process automation software) and e-Granthalaya (automation and networking of libraries) was held. Krishna Kumar asked the universities to prepare the action plan for complete automation of examinations and libraries within a week and submit it to the Rajbhawan. Funds would not be a constraint in the implementation of this IT-based technology, he said. A formal decision on the issue would be taken at a meeting of vice-chancellors to be held at Rajbhawan on Monday. Officers from NIC HQs gave a detailed presentation on digitisation and networking of libraries of various universities and departments and implementation of e-Granthalaya software. Addressing the participants through video-conferencing from New Delhi, NIC deputy director general M Moni observed that library automation, networking and inter-connectivity through broadband connection should be an integral part of national e-governance plan. He said five lakh libraries of thglobalisation.
e country should act as common service centres to usher in development of rural economy and