TNN,
Pune edition, 02nd Aug 2008
Seeks To Promote Computer Literacy
Pune:
After much debate over enhanced representation for pure
sciences in the engineering degree course, the revised syllabus
for the first-year engineering (FE) studies has finally
been released by the University of Pune (UoP).
The high point of this revised syllabus was not the anticipated
increase in the ratio for science subjects. Rather, it was
the measures that seek to promote computer literacy among
budding engineers.
“An online test for the ‘Fundamentals of programming
language’ paper has been proposed, while the internal
assessment for term works is sought to be replaced by online
practicals and oral exams,” Prakash Wani, UoP’s
dean for engineering faculty, told TOI on Friday.
“College-level internal assessments leave much scope
for debate over the approach adopted by individual institutions.
The online test will remove this and bring in increased
accountability,” said Wani.
The university has 59 engineering colleges located across
it’s jurisdiction of Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik districts.
Close to 15,000 students join these colleges at the FE level
each year and another 5,000-odd constitute the repeaters.
The FE level subjects are common to these students irrespective
of the branches they join.
For the 17 branches in the UoP-affiliated engineering colleges,
there are 14 boards of studies (BoS) — some branches,
like electronics and telecommunication; electronics and
industrial electronics; or chemical and petroleum; polymers
and petrochemicals, have a common BoS, Wani explained.
“Our plan is to introduce the on-line test in the
academic year 2008-09 during the exams scheduled for November/December,”
said Wani. A Rs 10-lakh allocation in the university’s
budget has been made for this purpose. “The test would
also serve as a pilot for the eventual goal of having online
tests up to the final-year level for all computer-related
engineering studies.”
A year ago, UoP vice-chancellor Narendra Jadhav started
a three-year phased programme for revision of the syllabus
for all the 484 courses. Of these, the revision of 220 courses
at the first-year undergraduate and post-graduate levels
was completed recently, but the FE course was an exception
to this owing to differences among faculty members, as well
as the BoS.
The debate was that to what extent and how the pure sciences
component (biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics)
should be increased from the present ratio of 9.5 per cent
to nearly 20 per cent, as compared to the thrust on the
applied technology part. The debate was driven by rising
emphasis on inter-disciplinary study.
Wani said, “There are a number of constraints for
effecting such a change. While we continue to work on it,
the revised syllabus hasn’t been changed much. We
have two subjects each for mathematics and science and one
for computers, out of the total 10 subjects.” he pointed
out.
On July 31, the academic section of the UoP’s board
of college and university development posted the revised
first-year engineering syllabus on the varsity’s official
website (www.unipune.ernet.in) after the same was finalised
the day before. The syllabus can be accessed on the students
helpline and exam information section of the website.
Looking
Forward
Online
test, practicals and orals for computer subject proposed
No enhanced representation for sciences yet
20,000 students from 59 colleges take FE exams each year
