GTU BRINGS IN EXTERNAL EXAMINERS TO PREVENT MALPRACTICE, UP QUALITY
Marks for engineering practical papers have been increased from 10 to 50 and external teachers introduced for exams in all eight semesters now; the move will force colleges to give importance to practicals and address industry’s concern at quality of graduates who are found wanting on shop floor
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Monday, January 06, 2014 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2014010620140106014309380f94c042f/GTU-BRINGS-IN-EXTERNAL-EXAMINERS-TO-PREVENT-MALPRACTICE-UP-QUALITY.html
Engineering students, you better pull up your socks. External teachers will conduct practical examinations in all semesters in colleges affiliated with Gujarat Technological University. Until now this happened only in the last two semesters, leaving the scope of unfair evaluation in the first six semesters.
The new rule comes in the wake of complaints that practical exams were being ignored by several colleges which would award marks arbitrarily to cover up for their lack of facilities and teaching staff.
This will also address the industry’s complaint that GTU students were not up to the mark on the floor. Since practicals were not conducted properly, these colleges often would give full marks to all students.
This created discrepancy as the students in some other colleges who studied hard for exams used to lose out on the merit list. “GTU has attempted to address this issue in one stroke. Practicals have been made more important. Now practicals will carry 50 marks out of 100, instead of 10 marks earlier,” said GTU Vice chancellor Akshai Aggarwal.
Industries lay great emphasis on practical work. GTU students possess good academic knowledge, however they lack practical knowledge in academics, he added.
“We conducted inspections at different colleges and found some colleges did not have labs. Some had them but they did not have necessary equipment. Thus they were giving full marks to students. This was because they did not teach them well and so could not expect good performance from students,” said Aggrawal.
The new directive will compel colleges to improve their practicals, as an external teacher would come to conduct practical in all the semesters, say GTU professors.
Krunal Bhayani, placement officer at L D College of Engineering, said , “Companies often tell us that they want students who have good practical knowledge. However, with such poor conditions in practicals, students do not live up to their expectations. This decision is likely to improve the situation.”
Self-financed colleges, a bulk of which form GTU’s strength, has welcomed the decision. "The new system is good for students. The entire system and most colleges will stand to benefit,” said Janak Khandwala, president of Association of Self-Financed Colleges.
CHANGE IN PRESENTATION
In another change, GTU has made Global Country Study Report presentation by MBA students more transparent. Previously, these were being conducted in small groups.
Now, students of different colleges will sit together and make presentations. Others will just listen while one group makes its presentation. This will rule out partiality and favoritism, which was happening earlier, faculty members said.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Monday, January 06, 2014 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2014010620140106014309380f94c042f/GTU-BRINGS-IN-EXTERNAL-EXAMINERS-TO-PREVENT-MALPRACTICE-UP-QUALITY.html
Engineering students, you better pull up your socks. External teachers will conduct practical examinations in all semesters in colleges affiliated with Gujarat Technological University. Until now this happened only in the last two semesters, leaving the scope of unfair evaluation in the first six semesters.
The new rule comes in the wake of complaints that practical exams were being ignored by several colleges which would award marks arbitrarily to cover up for their lack of facilities and teaching staff.
This will also address the industry’s complaint that GTU students were not up to the mark on the floor. Since practicals were not conducted properly, these colleges often would give full marks to all students.
This created discrepancy as the students in some other colleges who studied hard for exams used to lose out on the merit list. “GTU has attempted to address this issue in one stroke. Practicals have been made more important. Now practicals will carry 50 marks out of 100, instead of 10 marks earlier,” said GTU Vice chancellor Akshai Aggarwal.
Industries lay great emphasis on practical work. GTU students possess good academic knowledge, however they lack practical knowledge in academics, he added.
“We conducted inspections at different colleges and found some colleges did not have labs. Some had them but they did not have necessary equipment. Thus they were giving full marks to students. This was because they did not teach them well and so could not expect good performance from students,” said Aggrawal.
The new directive will compel colleges to improve their practicals, as an external teacher would come to conduct practical in all the semesters, say GTU professors.
Krunal Bhayani, placement officer at L D College of Engineering, said , “Companies often tell us that they want students who have good practical knowledge. However, with such poor conditions in practicals, students do not live up to their expectations. This decision is likely to improve the situation.”
Self-financed colleges, a bulk of which form GTU’s strength, has welcomed the decision. "The new system is good for students. The entire system and most colleges will stand to benefit,” said Janak Khandwala, president of Association of Self-Financed Colleges.
CHANGE IN PRESENTATION
In another change, GTU has made Global Country Study Report presentation by MBA students more transparent. Previously, these were being conducted in small groups.
Now, students of different colleges will sit together and make presentations. Others will just listen while one group makes its presentation. This will rule out partiality and favoritism, which was happening earlier, faculty members said.
