Binod Bihari Mahto Koyalanchal University is all set to install smart classes at all its 22 postgraduate departments and at 10 of its constituent colleges spread across Dhanbad and Bokaro.

The move is aimed at keeping pace with changing technologies and adopting a modernised method of education, which helps students understand concepts, improve their reading and understanding skills and academic progress.

Colleges under it to get smart classes include PK Roy Memorial College, Dhanbad; SSLNT Women’s College, Dhanbad; RSP College, Jharia; BSK College, Maithon; Sindri College, Sindri; Bokaro Steel City College, Bokaro; RSP Mor College, Govindpur; Katras College, Katrasgarh; Chas College, Chas; and KB College, Bermo.

The BBMKU on December 22 issued tenders for supply, installation and commission of 30 smart classrooms with all accessories at university departments and constituent colleges.

University vice chancellor Anjani Kumar Srivastava said: “Smart classes are the need of hour as they allow online teaching using the Internet. In the present era, where students need to be updated with new changes at every front including the syllabus, smart classes are the one-stop solution for almost all student problems.”

The new facilities may be installed either at existing academic blocks of the BBMKU at Babudih or the upcoming varsity campus at Bhelatand.

When asked where new smart classrooms would be set up, Srivastava said: “Work to install smart classes should begin in two-three months. If the new building of BBMKU at Bhelatand is not ready till the tender is finalised by January-end, the classrooms may initially be installed on the existing Babudih campus and later shift to Bhelatand around August-September.”

He added: “In the first phase, we are concentrating on installing smart classrooms in PG departments only. Gradually we will try to quip all classes, including undergraduate ones, with smart classrooms.”

As per the tender notice, the last date to submit bids is December 25, 2019, and the last date to open bids is January 21, 2020.

University professors welcomed the initiative. BBMKU head of the department of philosophy Naresh Kumar Ambastha said: “The university initiative is worth appreciating. It won’t just help students, it will also require teachers to keep themselves updated.”