In this digital age, students shall have access to data and internet as believed by one of the premier University of the country, Mumbai University. Thus, it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Jio as to provide free Wi-Fi on their campus.
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Under the MoU, around 833 affiliated colleges and research centres of the University will get free Wi-Fi facilities on the campus. Each college staffer and student will get about 20MB free usage facility every day.
The move will fulfill the long cherished dreams of the University authorities and will help the students in multiple ways like -
- Online facility for fees payment
- Purchase of stationery
- Delivering canteen coupons
- Dedicated chat services
- Making smart classrooms a reality
At a principals' meet on Monday, 5 December 2016, Sanjay Deshmukh, Vice-chancellor of the University said they are planning to go digital for every activity in the University. Free routers were provided to principals who had registered on-the-spot. Under the scheme, it can record, store and replay the lecture later on.
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A principal from a college appreciated the changes Deshmukh has brought at the university in the last one year. He was also highly appreciative of the money the VC had raised by giving land to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the construction of an elevated road in Kalina. There was a surplus of INR 67 crore in the budget for the year 2016, that he plans to increase by next year.
But the proposal received opposing responses from some principals. Reacting to this internet access proposal, a principal said that though it will be easy for staff and students on the campus, subscription to Reliance Jio services should be made optional.
It is to be noted that Reliance plans to introduce the Jio Money service as well, maybe early next year.