Universities in Bihar to be linked online with each other for uniformity

All universities in Bihar are set to be connected online via a University Management Information System (UMIS) in order to streamline their academic activities and other operations, and improve the overall higher-education sector in the state.

The new software of the state education department is likely to be in place before the universities commence their fresh sessions in July this year. “It is a move towards digitisation of institutions of higher education in the state.

The software will link all universities and its constituent colleges and regulate them to bring about transparency in their functioning,” a senior state education department official said.

Highlighting some of the salient features of syncing all universities, the official said, “One of its major benefits is regularisation of academic calenders of all universities, so that examination and results are on time,” said a source.

At present, of the nine regular universities in Bihar, only Patna University sticks to its academic calender and holds timely sessions, sources said.

The UMIS will also open the doors for online admission process to the institutions. “Under the integrated system, all universities and their constituent colleges will have functional and up-to-date websites where people will get all relevant details at the click of a mouse. It will have information related to courses, fees, activities and alumni etc,” the official said.

The UMIS will also have profile of the faculty members that mentions their educational qualification, expertise in fields, and other types of contributions on the web.

“It will also help in fiscal management of the varsities, and the department will be able to monitor the release and utilisation of funds. The payment of teaching and non-teaching staff is likely to get timely too,” said the official. The HR management component of the software will look into the attendance, leave, promotion, retirement and pension etc of the faculty and staff members.

Announcing VCs

Meanwhile, the process for selection of vice-chancellors (VCs) and pro-VCs for 11 universities in Bihar is also in the final leg. Bihar Governor cum chancellor Ram Nath Kovind has already announced the names of six of the 10 VCs, whose posts were advertised. “While the remaining VCs are likely to be finalised by mid-April, the pro-VCs of 11 universities will be announced shorty after finalisation of VCs as many have applied for both posts,” an officer in the governor’s secretariat said.

Source: DnaIndia

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