Kashmir University (KU) on Monday decided to constitute a sub-committee for suggesting pattern of exams to be introduced for postgraduate students of the varsity, amid the coronavirus lockdown.
The decision was taken byVice-Chancellor (VC) KU, Prof Talat Ahmad during a meeting convened to chalkout the future plans of the varsity with regard to conduct of exams and otheracademic activities.
“A sub-committee headed bycontroller examination has been constituted to submit the recommendations aboutthe pattern and modalities of online examinations and other requirementsassociated with conduct of the examinations,” said registrar KU, Nisar AhmadMir. “The committee will recommend whether students will face MCQs, open bookexams or will be evaluated on internal assessment basis.”
About the exams ofundergraduate students, the controller examination has been asked to take upthe matter with higher education department.
The registrar said the varsity decided to promoteprovisionally the PG first semester-2019 batch students to second semesterwhile as 2nd semester students-2018 batch will be promoted to 3rd semester underthe carryon system followed by the varsity.
“Later we will most probably hold combined exam of twosemesters. The final decision will be taken on the basis of the committeereport,” he said.
Hesaid the varsity has kept the PG admission link for 2020 session open for thestudents in view of the lockdown.
“We have so far received 20,000 applications from students.The link will be closed after lockdown is over,” he said.
The meeting was convened inthe backdrop of the recent UGC guidelines and various orders issued by thecentral and J&K administration, regarding conduct of the exams.
During the meeting, supervisors of all scholars wereimpressed to remain in touch with the students through all available onlineplatforms to ensure the theses, dissertations and manuscripts were checkedexpeditiously.
“Itwas decided the supervisors will seek approval of experts for evaluation ofthesis through e-mail and the thesis will be forwarded to respective examinersthrough e-mail. Scholars will be given relaxation to produce academic clearanceafter they appear in their viva-voce,” Mir said.
The University has also granted six months extension to allscholars whose registrations expired during the lockdown period or who couldnot submit their thesis.
“The decision was taken onbasis of the UGC recommendations,” Mir said.
The VC stressed for makingoptimum use of the online mode of education in view of the prevailing pandemicsituation. “We shall try to make best use of online and virtual teaching andlearning on regular and in an organized manner. We got the opportunity tocreate the given adverse circumstances to our advantage and strengthen virtualteaching-learning and the assessment at the University,” said the VC.
He said the internal assessment of the students will becarried using online modes for which the varsity must develop a robustmechanism to conduct the online exams.
“The faculty members should devise a mechanism to conductonline internal assessment of students. The students should be encouraged to doreview based desertions, avoiding use of laboratories and travel during thelockdown period,” the VC said.
The meeting was alsoinformed that around 33,724 teaching sessions have been conducted by theUniversity teachers, besides holding sessions on Zoom and other digitalplatforms.
“The school of education and directorate of distanceeducation should explore the possibility of conducting online teaching practicesessions for B Ed students in collaboration with the school educationdepartment,” the VC said.