7000 users affiliated with teachers, researchers and administration will be connected to the smart campus
Tando Jam
Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tando Jam has become the first ‘Smart Campus’ in the province, as the entire university has been connected to the Internet.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information Technology & Science Ms. Tanzila Um-i-Habiba inaugurated the system along with SAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri and Nazaeer Hussain, Director General Higher Education Commission at new IT Building on Saturday.
The SAU has become the first “Smart Campus” in the province, with the support of the Higher Education Commission.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Fateh Marri said that it was an honor for the Sindh Agriculture University to become the first “Smart Campus” of Sindh Province. “7000 users affiliated with teachers, researchers and administration will be connected to the smart campus,” he added.
Dr. Marri said that records of university admissions, examinations and administration would be digitized, while classrooms, libraries, seminars and conferences would also be connected to the Internet and the university would be connected to national and international academic and research institutions. “Now the world’s modern science curriculum will be easily accessible for students,” he told adding that the textbooks approved for the university are being scanned and uploaded on the website.
He said that various universities of the country including Sindh Agricultural University were facing financial difficulties. “The Sindh Government should help the universities to overcome the deficit by releasing special grants and budgets to fulfill the best academic responsibilities,” he urged.
Ms. Tanzila Um-i-Habiba, who is also Chairperson of Standing Committee of Universities and Boards Sindh, said that Sindh government was fulfilling its responsibilities for academic facilities in the universities of the province.
“It has been decided to give IT zone status to Karachi, Jamshoro and Sukkur to facilitate higher education institutions in the province, which will not only make the universities smarter but also benefit them in business activities,” she told.
“COVID-19 was a trouble on the one hand, and on the other, it encouraged us to understand and learn about the modern world for holding assembly sessions, conferences and classes online,” she added.
Ms. Tanzila said that six universities of Sindh have been connected with IT, while the remaining six universities would be connected with free IT facility.
Addressing the event, Nazir Hussain, Director General, HEC Islamabad, said that modern educational environment is being provided to millions of students of 230 private and public universities of the country and their affiliated campuses and colleges. He said that the research and education system has been developed through information technology to connect the students of the national and international universities for academic links, while the Smart University Program, Pakistan Agricultural Research Network and other programs have been started.
Dr. Aijaz Ali Khoharo, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Social Sciences and Suhrab Thahim, In-Charge of Smart Campus of the University said that with 10Gps Wi-Fi systems SAU becomes the first university of Pakistan.
“Some 120 surveillance cameras are being installed in the university under the SAFE Campus project, as well as local data center will also be set up in the university,” they said.
The deans, professors, teachers and students from different faculties were also present on the occasion. (PR)
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