Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) has finalised plans to implement a ‘COVID package’ for students in the new academic year. According to MGU Vice-Chancellor Dr Sabu Thomas, the package has three components – online examinations, rescheduling of the semesters and online admissions. “The clearance of the state government has been sought to implement the package as it is a departure from the Educational Policy,” he added.
Online exams
Under the COVID package, it is proposed to conduct exams in all the 267 colleges affiliated with MGU in online mode. Special computer labs would be set up in the colleges for the purpose and a new Computer Department is to be established in the university to oversee the conduct of the exams and valuation. However, written exams would be continued for Humanities subjects. The MGU has also decided to purchase online exam software from abroad.
Semester revamp
MGU is planning to split degree courses on the basis of semesters. The teaching, conduct of examinations and evaluation in semesters 1, 3 and 5 would be carried out by the respective colleges and exams and valuation in semesters 2, 4 and 6 would be the task of the university. MGU will be providing the questions and teaching support for colleges.
Online admissions
Another innovative proposal of MGU is the ‘Life Cycle Management’ programme, which monitors through online mode the entire admission process, academic progress, graduation and completion of courses of each student under the university. As a result, the functioning of MGU, especially the admissions, would now involve only online procedures.