Varsity plans question paper bank

Yogita Rao TNN

Mumbai: The University of Mumbai plans to create a bank of over 150 question papers in every subject of every branch in engineering. Every college will have to submit three question papers of every subject in all branches they offer. A workshop has been organized by the university on July 21 to discuss the format of the question paper and the use of technology in conducting the examination and assessment of papers. 

    Following the leak of three papers during the engineering examination in May, the university has decided to form a question bank of papers. Also under consideration is to have question papers generated technologically. “All 61 engineering colleges have been told to set three question papers each of every subject in every branch of engineering that the college offers. Once the question papers are submitted by colleges, the university plans to use technology to pick questions randomly and have different sets of question papers for the exam,” said the principal of an engineering college. 

    The workshop for teachers will discuss issues like the format of the paper and pattern. Suresh Ukrande, the dean of technology, said, “We will discuss how the bank can be created using technology. We will also decide on weightage to be given to each topic and marks distribution.” When engineering papers leaked this year, a committee set up by the university concluded that most of the times, especially in the engineering faculty, only one question paper is set and the paper-setter is known. The university, however, later claimed that three or more question papers were set for all leaked papers this year. 

    On the 156th Foundation Day on Wednesday, the university announced that along with engineering, workshops will be conducted for BEd training colleges. From next year, the university will felicitate the best researcher and best department to encourage research. 

 

Autonomy For More Colleges I n two years, the university plans to have more than 15 autonomous colleges under its jurisdiction. With five colleges already enjoying autonomy status--three Somaiya colleges were given autonomy this year--the university plans to encourage more to go in for that soon. Even university departments will be encouraged to apply for academic autonomy, said vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar at the university’s 156th Foundation Day. TNN 

Source:::: The Times of India, 19-07-2012, p.05. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW