The State-of the-art interactive VSAT Channel of EDUSAT network of the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) was launched on Monday by Governor T N Chaturvedi.
After the success story of VTU in demonstrating the efficacy of the satellite system for distance education in engineering colleges in Karantaka, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has given VSAT Channel, which has a two-way video nd two-way audio feature, to the first batch of 30 selected colleges.
VTU at present is using DTH Channel and transmitting live sessions from its studio at the DSERT Campus in Bangalore. With this VTU is the only university in the country that will have two channels for training and education purposes.
Of the 121 engineering colleges, ISRO has identified 30 engineering colleges as Batch-1 colleges to get the proposed VSAT Channel based on the utilisation of and response to the current DTH Channel by the colleges and on the location of the colleges.
Principals of these 30 colleges also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that the colleges will completely utilise the VTU-EDUSAT network (both DTH and VSAT Channels).
ISRO will provide the necessary VSAT, Hub and Teaching-end support while VTU will coordinate with various engineering colleges affiliated to it and manage the VSAT network, which is part of the overall VTU-EDUSAT network currently being operational said, K Balaveera Reddy, Vice Chancellor, VTU.
He added that VTU is primarily responsible for  conducting various courses of undergraduate and post graduate programmes in engineering and other academic related programmes.