Odisha Govt Issues SOP For Smooth Functioning Of Virtual Tutorial Studio

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for smooth functioning of the virtual tutorial studio set up at the Directorate of Distance and Continuing Education (DDCE) in Bhubaneswar.

In a letter to the registrars of all state public universities, the Higher Education Department has said that as all higher educational institutions in the state are closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, the state government has been forced to focus on technology-based online education to impart quality education during the lockdown period and also after that. With a view to improving the technology-based education throughout the state, a virtual tutorial studio has already been set up at the DDCE in Utkal University wherein e-contents have been developed.

It has been decided to allow other universities to utilise the facilities for optimum utilisation of the studio for which the following SOP has been issued for the smooth functioning of the studio.

— The virtual tutorial studio located will be under the administrative control of Utkal University as before.

— For successful maintenance of the studio, Utkal University will take the decision in consultation with the Higher Education Department.

— All state public universities under the administrative control of the Higher Education Department can utilise this studio for the production of digital/online materials.

— They will give their requisition to utilise the studio at least one month before to the director, DDCE. Requisition for the use of the studio at a stretch for a few days is desirable. Accordingly, they will have to prepare their calendar and submit to DDCE.

— Depending on the availability of the slot, DDCE will inform the concerned university for utilising the studio.

— Once the e-contents are developed and vetted by the universities, these will be uploaded on their websites for easy access by students. E-content developed on a particular subject by one university should not be replicated or recorded again by another university.

— DDCE will maintain a detailed register of all the programmes developed for their references.

— The subject experts cannot demand any remuneration from the DDCE. The concerned universities will pay the remuneration and will also arrange the logistics and any other expenses pertaining to their universities. Only technical support for e-content development and the infrastructure associated with this shall be provided by the DDCE.