File picture of a smart class at a junior college in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 8: This year is going to be the year of smart classrooms, wi-fi campuses, virtual classes and automated libraries for colleges and universities in the state.

The higher education department will spend Rs 20 crore as part of its “modernisation of quality education” programme during the year.

Department officials have already held a number of meetings with their colleagues in the finance and planning and co-ordination departments to discuss the proposals in detail.

While there is a provision of Rs 2 crore for government colleges, non-government colleges have been earmarked Rs 1 crore for establishment of the smart classrooms.

Similarly, Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 1 crore have been earmarked for government and non-government colleges for setting up wi-fi campus respectively.

It was decided that the request for proposal for smart classroom and wi-fi campus would be advertised in the form of a tender.

“Virtual class facilities will be provided to the autonomous colleges of Cuttack, Puri and Khurda districts,” said a senior official in the department.

Underlining the need for NET coaching to enhance the success rate of students aspiring to become teaching faculties, the department has decided that the coaching will be imparted in universities and postgraduate teaching colleges of the state.

“The universities and colleges will provide rooms and other infrastructure for establishment of these ‘NET surfing centres’ and ‘NET clinics’,” said an official of the higher education department.

The centres will have facility to accommodate at least 30 students at one time.

Proposals are also being drafted for library automation. The National Informatics Centre, Bhubaneswar, will install the “e-granthalaya” software for the purpose.

A provision for allocation of Rs 3.50 crore and Rs 1 crore has been made for government colleges and non-government colleges respectively for this purpose.