Dr Dileep Agnihotri
University of Lucknow hosted a grand virtual inauguration event for 6 new digital services of the University today, including their indigenously developed Learning Management System, SLATE: Strategic Learning Application for Transformative Education. Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Chancellor of University of Lucknow Smt. Anandiben Patel graced the occasion as the Chief Guest of the event, which was attended by several dignitaries of the state, educationists of the country and the University of Lucknow family. The programme started with the University anthem, its Kulgeet performed by Dr.Roli Mishra and Dr. Garima Singh. Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, then welcomed the Chief Guest, Her Excellency Madam and informed her of the latest achievements of the University, including the newly initiated modern D.Litt program, its inclusion in the Webometrics ranking conducted by the National Research Council, Spain, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the India Today rankings, etc. He said that the University has been constantly moving towards the incorporation of “speed, accuracy and transparency in all its educational, research and administrative activities” and that in line with this motivation, all the 6 new portals to be inaugurated today have been designed. Prof. Rai gave a brief introduction of all the portals, including SLATE, the new Learning Management System that the University has developed in-house. He informed that the process to acquire copyright of the portal as well as trademark of its logo has also been initiated, and teachers of the University will be starting their classes on SLATE from 17th September, 2020, i.e. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s birthday. Next, Prof. Rai emphasised the importance of recruitment of teachers into the University family for several things like inclusion in national and international rankings, NAAC accreditation, etc. and informed everyone of the new recruitment portal where in candidates from around the world will be able to apply for positions advertised at the University without any problem. He also announced that the next advertisement for recruitments in the University will be published on 17th September, 2020.
Prof. Rai then introduced the new Integrated Financial Management System and commented on how the new portal will be responsible for bringing the University’s collective vision of transparency and accuracy in financial system of the University to fruition. He also spoke of the Student Instant Messaging Service (SIMS) that has been designed to reach the maximum number of students at a single instant, so that important information can be intimated without any delay.
A new computer centre at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology is also being inaugurated today. Prof. Rai spoke of the success of the faculty in a very short while since its establishment and remarked that the new computer centre will be opened for public use on Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Prof. Rai then mentioned the new off-campus counselling portal UnLOC and said it is not only an important portal that will ensure safety of students in today’s Corona crisis by letting student enrol for counselling from the comfort of their homes, but is also a far-sighted effort on the University’s part to speed up the counselling process of students from different programmes interested in enrolling at the University.
After the Vice Chancellor’s address, Her Excellency Smt. Anandiben Patel inaugurated all the 6 new digital facilities of the University: SLATE: Strategic Learning Application for Transformative Education, SIMS: Student Instant Messaging System, Online Recruitment Portal, Integrated Financial Management System, Computer Centre at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, and UnLOC: University of Lucknow Online Counselling. Prof. Poonam Tandon, Dean of Students’ Welfare spoke at length about SLATE and its role as a ground breaking innovation in the field of education. She mentioned how the initiative follows Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call to be “vocal for local” since SLATE is exclusively designed by the University of Lucknow itself. Madri Kakoti introduced the Student Instant Messaging System and outlined its functionalities. Prof. Manuka Khanna talked about the new Online Recruitment Portal and expressed her expectations of the portal being highly efficient as the first step towards a successful recruitment process. Finance Officer Shri Sanjay Shrivastava detailed the workings of the Integrated Financial Management System and remarked how it is going to transform Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Alok Kumar Rai’s vision of speed and transparency in the University’s financial activities into a reality. Prof. R. S Gupta talked about the Computer Centre and told about the latest arrangements made in the facility to facilitate the best possible learning environment of the students of the Engineering faculty. Finally, Prof. Anil Mishra talked about the off-campus online counselling portal for students and remarked how it is completely unique and one of a kind in the country.
Once the inaugural event was over, Her Excellency Smt. Anandiben Patel delivered her address on “National Education Policy 2020 and expectations from state Higher Education Institutions”. She began by outlining the importance of the NEP2020 and its defining characteristic of being something that is the result of consultation with lakhs of people around the country. She said that the NEP is built on the fundamental pillars of easy access, equality, quality, affordability of education and accountability for all. This education policy aims to bring out the creative thinking, reasoning ability and the spirit of innovation in every student. She remarked that the purpose of NEP2020 is to attract more attention to education and learning, and to promote the use of technology for education, to remove linguistic constraints, to make education easier and easier for disabled students, women, etc.
She also spoke of how under NEP2020, the undergraduate curriculum has been significantly improved, and specially mentioned the provision of Academic Bank of Credit, an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation-IITI to strengthen various Indian languages and work towards their conservation and development. The Higher Education Commission of India will be established as a single body for the higher education sector and universities for multidisciplinary education and multi-pronged research of global standards will be established.
Her Excellency remarked that Uttar Pradesh has 32 state and 29 private universities, and 85% of the learners are studying in private colleges. The three-dimensional role of teaching, research and expansion of institutions of higher education and inter-complementarity of colleges and universities etc. is underlined in the NEP. In fact, NEP2020 encompasses elementary education and digital education, technology in education, promotion of Indian languages, internationalization of education, vocational education, adult education, and even financial education.
Expressing her expectations for University of Lucknow to be an exemplary institute in the implementation of the objectives of NEP2020, Her Excellency said that she state Higher Educational Institutions should all work towards ensuring everyone’s access to high quality and comprehensive education, and at the global forums – leading economic and social development, and conserving equality, environment, scientific progress and culture.
A major path will be paved by the introduction of several different modules in the education system under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) in NEP2020, as per the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The educated youth will not only get opportunities across India, but will also be able to learn and use new skills.
Her Excellency commended the University of Lucknow’s constant move towards incorporating ICT in not only its classrooms but in its daily administrative function as well. She congratulated everyone for the new facilities. Dr. Vinok Kumar Singh extended the Vote of Thanks to all the stakeholders of the event.
The program was coordinated by Dr. Keya Pandey and was streamed live on YouTube to more than 1000 viewers.
