CHENNAI: An online progress monitoring system for PhD students has been introduced by University of Madras, said its Vice Chancellor P Duraisamy at the 159th convocation of the varsity on Saturday.
Claiming that this is the first of its kind in Indian Universities, he said the university will move to becoming more digital. Higher Education Minister K P Anbalagan, announced that University will be part of the Swayam Prabha scheme – a digital platform on revolutionising education in the country – an initiative by Ministry of Human resource development launched by the President this month.
He said the University administration is already progressing as part of digital initiatives like National Academic Depository (NAD) made operational by Ministry of Human Resources development. With NAD, all documents like certificates, diplomas, fee payment, hall ticket and other details are made available online.
He added that MHRD and UGC appointed NSDL Database Management limited (NDML) to facilitate institutions to digitally, securely and quickly issue online awards to students directly in their online NAD account.
Student can access certificate at any time and authorise banks and employers to view and verify the certificates. He also said as part of Swayam Prabha scheme, classes and lectures will be made online or through electronic devices (DTH).
Duraisamy said, “PhD students and their supervisors can now obtain information at every stage from admission to graduation,” adding that to retain and utilise knowledge and expertise of retired teachers from the University of Madras and other Universities, a new scheme, Honorary Emeritus Professor/Visiting Professor scheme has been introduced from this month.
For 2016-17, 987 PhD students have been admitted. He also said UGC had sanctioned `50 crore under Phase II of the UPE program and `5.5 crores under UGC-CPEPA.