The Charotar University of Science and Technology (Charusat) in Changa, Gujarat has become the first educational institute in the state to introduce digital paperless examinations. In the current annual examination, more than 9,000 students from 9 colleges within Charusat are taking their exams on tablets, saving around 12 lakh papers or approximately 150 trees.
Charusat signed an MOU with Littlemore Innovation Labs, a Singapore-based company, in 2019 to facilitate the implementation of digital paperless exams. Special training classes were conducted for academic staff and students to ensure the successful adoption of the new system.
Initially, the paperless exams were conducted for first-year students, with more than 1,500 students taking the exam. From 2022-2023 onwards, all internal and external exams are conducted in paperless mode. The university purchased 1,250 tablets from Littlemore Innovation Labs on a service-based contract, but now the university itself sets up question papers, authoring, answer sheet evaluation in the system.
The system has several benefits, including the ability to use multimedia audio and video in question papers, secure storage in the cloud, and instant saving of answers. Teachers can evaluate the exam and give marks on the tablet itself, generating various reports like total marks, carry forwarding of marks, section-wise marks, and course outcome-wise marks.
Dr. Atul Patel, Registrar and Controller of Exams at Charusat University, states that the university is the first in Gujarat to introduce digital paperless exams, with 1,250 tablets arranged for 9,000 students across 9 colleges. The tablet devices have a battery backup of 16 hours and do not require an internet connection, operating instead on a Wi-Fi connection. Students can view their answer sheets after checking.
The paperless exam has been positively received by students, with one BBA student stating that the online exam is more convenient than before and it is easier to write on a tablet. The exam reformation unit of Charusat conducts innovative experiments in the examination method from time to time, resulting in timely delivery of examination results and transcript and provisional degree certificates given to students along with the examination result.
The initiative has been well appreciated by the trustees, advisors, office bearers, and principals-deans of various faculties. The exams are being successfully conducted by OSD Abhilash Shukla and his team under the guidance of Dr. Atul Patel, strengthening the credibility of the university examination system and progressively enhancing the quality of education.
