Davangere University set to become wi-fi soon

All colleges to be linked under National Knowledge Network project

As many as 110 colleges will get internet connection and students will get tablet personal computers to access the e-world under a project of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry.

All the universities in the State have been brought under National Education Mission through Information Communication Technology of the Union HRD Ministry.

More than 400 universities across the country have been provided BSNL internet connection under the programme to create a National Knowledge Network.

Each university gets Rs two crore for the project. The Human Resource Development Ministry bears 75 per cent of the cost of the project and the balance will have to be borne by the varsities.

The proposed network will link all the colleges and varsities with each other thus enabling the students to access a broad spectrum of knowledge. Teachers and students can browse research works, e-journals, study materials to supplement their lessons, current affairs, and rapid changes in the world around, Prakash, registrar of Davangere University, said.

Tablet PCs

The facility allows the students to search for the information at the click of a mouse. They need not rummage through books at the library in search of a study material or a research work. It also pays to improve the students’ knowledge of English.

The Union government will provide tablet PCs at a cost of Rs 1,338 to students. Since the entire campus goes wi-fi, students can browse the internet anywhere on the campus. As of the now, the connectivity is being provided to buildings and in later stages the entire campus will be made wi-fi compliant, the registrar explained.

Davangere university has purchased 120 computers exclusively for the project. A batch of four students will be provided a computer.

The varsity has asked the affiliated colleges to secure internet connection. The monthly service charge comes to around Rs 100.

Prakash said two lecturers were deputed to attend a seminar held in Chennai on successful implementation of the project. The programme would be a reality by March next year.

Students too would be made aware of the facility and if necessary, he added.