Anand: Changa-based Charotar University of Science and Technology (Charusat) has added another feather to its laurels after becoming the first educational institute in Gujarat to start digital paperless examination. In the current annual examination, more than 9000 students of 9 colleges of Charusat are giving the examination on tablets instead of paper. It is worth mentioning here that with this initiative 12 lakh papers which is around 150 trees are being saved and help in maintaining the environment.

In 2019, an MOU was signed between Charusat University and Littlemore Innovation Labs, a Singapore-based company. As a part of which, Littlemore Innovation Labs facilitated the university to conduct digital paperless examinations. Special training classes for the academic staff and students were conducted by them for implementation of digital paperless university examination system.

Initially these exams were held for first year students, in which more than 1500 students gave the exam. From 2022-2023 onwards, it was decided to conduct all internal and external examinations in paperless mode, as part of which the examinations are currently being conducted on tablets.

Initially 1250 tablets Charusat bought from Littlemore Innovation Labs on service based contract. But now university itself sets up question papers, authoring, answer sheet evaluation in the system. Questions can be asked by placing multi media audio video. Question papers are saved in cloud in encrypted mode and scanned with password, hence there is no possibility of leaking of paper. Students can write easily and it is saved instantly. Teachers check the paper and give marks in the tablet itself. Total Mark, Carry forwarding of Mark, Section Wise Mark, Course Outcome Wise Mark report all these generates by the system.

Dr. Atul Patel, Registrar and Controller of Exams of Charusat University says, their University is the first in Gujarat to start digital paperless examination in which 1250 tablets have been arranged for 9000 students of 9 colleges of the entire university to take the exam. Question papers go from the computer to the cloud and are uploaded to the tablet. Authentication is done through an iris scan in the exam. The tablet device has a battery back-up of 16 hours, does not require internet and runs on a Wi-Fi connection. Students can see the answer sheet after checking. Initially paperless examination was experimented for first year students.

Now a fully digital paperless exam is conducted for students of all years. We are realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of Digital India through this exam. This environment friendly system helps save paper and the environment. Also, the paper used in answer books, question papers, hall tickets is being saved through which the quality of the examination system is increasing along with the preservation of the environment. With this exam we will save 12 lakh papers.

The special feature of this exam is that students don’t need to bring anything to take the exam. After the exam all the question papers go to cloud-internet and professors can log in and evaluate, check, remark-circle-tick which makes it easy. Instead of the hall tickets, answer sheets, supplements, the students are given a tablet having the question papers and hall ticket. Students write the answers in the same tablet with a stylus pen. All operations related to paperless like scheduling exams in the software, preparing devices for students, allowing teachers to check answer scripts are kept in mind.
The evaluation of the answers given by the students is also done online through the cloud platform and the results are given quickly by the university. Hence the credibility of university examination system has been strengthened, not only that, the evaluations made by the examiners are also regularly analyzed by experts so that the quality of education can also be progressively enhanced.

BBA Student Esha Patel says that this online exam is more convenient than before and it is easier to write on a tablet.
The examination reformation unit of Charusat conducts innovative experiments in the examination method from time to time as a result of which the students receive the examination results on time. Transcript and provisional degree certificates are also given to the students along with the examination result. This initiative was well appreciated by the trustees, advisors, office bearers and principals-deans of various faculties.

Exams are being conducted successfully by OSD Abhilash Shukla and his team under the guidance of Dr. Atul Patel.