The Hindu

We at MAHE are glad to be the first in India to start online test. The response for online test has been good: Vice-Chancellor H.S. Ballal 

Manipal, Apr 10: The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has set a benchmark in the field of medical education. For the first time in the country, MAHE conducted computer-based entrance test for admission to postgraduate medical and dental courses, which allows unparallel flexibility to students.

Student friendly

Overall, a student friendly test is aimed at reducing the stress that a student has to undergo. The second phase, which is due in May/June, covers the entrance test for all other postgraduate courses in Allied Health Sciences, Nursing, Technology, etc.

Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday about this student friendly initiative, Vice-Chancellor of MAHE H.S. Ballal said: "We at MAHE are glad to be the first in India to start online test. The response for online test has been good. As part of our student centric process, we plan to introduce counselling and admissions through video conferencing."

Paperless system

With this successful experiment, MAHE intends to move towards a paperless examination system - a truly e-enabled university. MAHE is also planning to allow candidates to schedule tests at their own convenience and allowing them to take the test multiple times in an academic year.

Candidates writing other tests will not have any difficulty since the online test will be held over a period of time and not on a single day.

They can always choose the online test schedule, which is different from other tests.

This initiative will help students get the merit list across India just a day after the test.

About 7,000 students across India have registered for this online test.

Centres

To conduct the tests, the Manipal Universal Pvt. Ltd (Manipal U), under the aegis of the Manipal Group has set up world-class test centres at nine locations in the country.

Plans are afoot to increase the number of such centres to 25 by next year.

The facilities include the latest computers with flat screen to every student, ergonomically designed test rooms, high security communication network for electronic delivery of the test, and use of biometric and hi-tech monitoring systems to prevent impersonation and foul play.

Each computer is fitted with a web camera, which takes the image of the candidate every 20 minutes.

All activities of the test centre are covered with network cameras.

Three-hour test

Each test is timed for three hours and submission happens automatically at the end of three hours.

The scores are immediately generated on submission.

The entire process is audited by a third party for security compliance.

Plan to obtain a BS 7799 for the process is under way. BS 7799 is the de facto international standard for Data Security Process Validation.

With this certification, MAHE intends to reiterate its commitment to its core values of transparency, objectivity and fair play.

Registrar of MAHE H. Vinod Bhat was present.