Bengaluru: Engineering colleges to hold online induction for freshers

Bengaluru: Several engineering colleges in the State are holding induction programme for first-year students online in view of coronavirus threat. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has directed institutions to complete the induction programme within seven days instead of normal 21 days.

Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has all the colleges under its ambit to cover online topics like universal human values, physical health, familiarisation of the department, lecture by eminent persons, language proficiency modules, creative practices, extra- curricular activities and awareness of Covid-19.

Prof Sadashive Gowda, Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysore said that the objectives of the induction program are to build rapport between freshers and the staff of the institute and speed up the acclimatization of students to a new environment.

"This familiarization process will significantly boost the self-confidence and help them know each and everything about the college. This time due to pandemic instead of a regular three-week induction program, VTU has recommended a week online process. We have made a plan to make the online induction program as effective as the offline one, yet students' interaction among their peers is very limited. In addition, physical activities cannot be carried out. We have to see how students are going to respond to the online induction programme," he added.

During the physical induction programs students were involved in different activities but in an online induction there are limitations.

In order to make up for the gap, Gowda said online games and interactions between the students and facilities have been included.

Nithin Mohan, CEO, Cambridge Institute of Technology K R Puram ,Bengaluru said, "Online sessions are to be conducted to educate students about the current pandemic situation, how to overcome and develop both mental and physical strength to face challenges."

"Academic sessions are planned to be carried out through blended learning. Online sessions would be carried out through Great Learning Management System software. Offline induction program for first-year students is tentatively planned in the first week of January. Induction program when conducted in the campus would aid our professors to develop a good rapport with our freshers and our students would also feel happy to get introduced to their professors in person," he added.