University of Pune tells colleges to send online requisition

In a first, the University of Pune has asked its affiliated colleges and recognized institutions to specify their requirement regarding exam material and stationery through an online process for the March 2014 exam session. During the October/November 2013 exams, some colleges had run out of exam stationery, including blank answer books, sending them on a last-minute rush to secure the same through other sources. The university also faced flak from the media over this incident. “We have switched over to the online requisition syste to prevent situations like this and obtain enough stationery, including stationery left over from the previous exams,” V B Gaikwad, director of UoP’s board of college and university development (BCUD), told TOI on Monday. The university conducts over 300 exams for postgraduate, degree and diploma courses under 11 faculties during each of the March/April and October/November sessions. The March session extends up to end of May. The total number of answer books for each of these sessions is pegged at over 1 crore. The university has a total of 811 colleges and institutes spread over Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik districts. On November 24, 2009, following a question paper leak, the UoP declared its move to transfer the conduct of the first-year papers of some of its degree courses to colleges. The decision would reduce the burden on the university’s exam department and followed the example set by universities like the University of Mumbai, where first-year exams are conducted by colleges. All exams related to first-year arts, science and commerce, fine arts, biotechnology, humanities and social sciences, bachelor of business administration, computer application and business management (international business) are being conducted at the college-level since the academic year 2010-11. “The university’s board of examination has planned various exams from March 2014, for which the colleges and institutes are required to furnish an online application for exam material and stationery requirement by February 10,” states a four-page letter to principals and directors of colleges and institutes. In, Gaikwad has stated that all exam stationery requirements will now be conducted only through the online mode and It also states that no manual requisition for exam stationery will be entertained. The university has warned colleges and institutes against using exam stationery provided solely for the exams to be conducted by the university. “The colleges have to print their own exam material, stationery and blank answer books for college-level exams,” the letter further states. The colleges have also been asked to furnish details of the October/November 2013 exam stationery leftover to the university soon. Source: Education News