VTUs e-valuation to be foolproof

GULBARGA/BANGALORE: Visvesvarya Technological University (VTU) is all set to introduce digital evaluation system in all engineering colleges under its fold from the next academic year.VTU was inspired by the grand success of this  system which was introduced last year on pilot basis in some UG and PG centres, sources told Express here on Monday. The VTU has already become the first university in the country to initiate a digital evaluation system of examination answer scripts and to announce results within one week on a pilot basis.Sources said that with the initiative taken by the V-C Prof H Maheshappa, VTU along with MindLogicx has pioneered the digital evaluation system which is transparent, tamper-proof, fast, efficient, cost-effective and above all teacher/valuator friendly. The system has revolutionised the examination system, sources said. At a press conference here in Bangalore, Prof H Maheshappa, Vice-Chancellor, VTU said: “The word university reminds us about examinations and the various errors that occur during evaluation. Students and parents alike want error-free evaluation. This has prompted us to adopt technology to the full by digitising the entire process of evaluation.”Close to 20 lakh answer scripts of three lakh students across 193 colleges will be evaluated online. “Digital evaluation has been scattered across a few colleges. I think this is the first time a university is implementing the system fully,” he said.“During the pilot projects, we were able to announce results in ten days. With full implementation of the system, we are hoping to announce results in three days,” he added. According to Prof Maheshappa, this system is expected to save `5 crore a year. “There are many costs that can be cut, such as conveyance (TA/DA) for personnel and stationery,” said the V-C, adding that tenders would be floated in the coming days. How the system worksAll answer scripts are bar coded and then scanned by high speed scanners (800 scripts of 44 pages each per eight hour session) and uploaded on the VTU server. Authorised valuators get access to the uploaded answer scripts and the marks are entered on the system and calculated automatically, thus eliminating any kind of totaling errors. The TU would valuate 15 lakh answer scripts per semester in centres across Bangalore, Belgaum, Mysore, Mangalore and other major cities in Karnataka.  By introducing the new system, the VTU has compressed time considerably and effected huge savings. The VTU would save almost `5 crore per year on stationary, on TA&DA for evaluators and other personnel cost involved in movement of answer scripts. This system is unique and has less than 0.01 per cent margin for errors.