Private Univs Use AI To Kick-Start Admissions In A Changed World

Private Univs Use AI To Kick-Start Admissions In A Changed World

Brace For August Classes, But Yet To Take A Call On Mode Of Instruction

Shradha Chettri & Mohammad Ibrar TNN

New Delhi: 11.07.2020

While the central and state universities are waiting for the University Grants Commission guidelines for vital decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic, most private universities have already worked out the academic calendar and the admission procedure.

The admission process has fully shifted online, mostly through AI-proctored entrance tests and live interviews. While classes are likely to start from August, the universities will decide on online or offline mode on the basis of the Covid-19 situation.

Shiv Nadar University announced in May itself its decision to conduct online admission tests “using an AI mechanism that is secure and ensures anti-cheating surveillance”. The university has also accepted existing SAT scores. In the absence of Class XII board marks, provisional admissions are being granted on the basis of school grades and entrance tests.

Rupamanjari Ghosh, vicechancellor of Shiv Nadar, said, “We are committed to ensuring that students continue their education without interruption during these difficult times.”

OP Jindal Global University is also taking the online route. The university’s law entrance test, a written examination since its inception in 2009, will be conducted entirely online on July 19. “It will become India’s first and only law entrance exam to be entirely online, AI-enabled remote-proctored,” said an official.

The system ensures recording of the candidates’ examinations for review to protect the integrity of the examination process, he added. The university has also conducted its admissions for all degree programmes through the online Jindal Scholastic Aptitude Test.

The admission process is also on at Amity University, which has live online interview sessions for some programmes. “For this year, we have made the admission process fully online. After filling up application forms, students have to upload three videos of randomised questions asked to them,” said Atul Chauhan, its chancellor. After a panel of interviewers evaluates the form and the videos, a selected student will get the admission letter on the admission microsite, he added.

At Amity, classes for senior students are starting on July 13 in remote teaching mode. For freshers, classes may begin before September.

Ashoka University has already decided August 24 as the orientation day and will begin classes on August 31. “Classes will be online till the mid-semester break, which begins on October  10. The decision on holding online or physical classes will be taken closer to that time,” said the university spokesperson.

Bennett University has provided a flexible online admission procedure. While the university will continue its engineering admission process till the JEE exams are conducted, it is admitting students who appeared for the JEE mains exams in January.

“If they have Class XII scores, they can secure admissions with their PCM (physics, chemistry and mathematics) scores. Even if there are students with no board exam results and they come to us with pre-board exam scores, we will provide them provisional admissions with our 60% eligibility criteria,” said Nandkumar Dhake, vice-president for sales and marketing, Bennett University. The university will cross-check their Class XII scores once the board results are out and complete the admissions.