ISRO-IIT,Bombay EDUSAT Network launched

Bangalore, Jan 1(UNI) A major initiative towards providing satellite based tele-education facilities to Engineering Colleges in the country was launched today by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in association with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay.

The EDUSAT network provides satelite-based tele-education facilities to students and teachers of the Engineering Colleges across the country.

The teaching end was set up at IIT, Bombay by ISRO to provide satellite bandwidth and install ground equipment at various recipient institutes across the country, while IIT, Bombay would arrange for delivering full fledged courses on various Engineering topics through its facility o this network, according to an ISRO release here.

To begin with, IIT, Bombay has scheduled 13 full fledged courses on this channel as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ISRO and IIT, Bombay. About 50 Colleges including IITs, several National Institute of Technology (NIT), VJTI, Mumbai, Samrat Ashok Technological Institute, Vidisha, Sona College of Engineering and Technology, Salem and Delhi College of Engineering which already have the compatible ground terminal equipments, would start receiving these programmes from tomorrow (January two). New Institutes, which wish to join this programme would be provided ground equipment soon.

In the EDUSAT Network, launched on September 20,2004, ISRO has set up more than 45 broadcast and interactive networks covering 20 States including North-Eastern States and Islands of the country.

More than 30,000 class rooms have been provided connectivity through EDUSAT and the number is still growing steadily.

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair, Scientific Secretary A Bhaskaranarayana, Viveswaraya Technological University (VTU) Vice Chancellor Prof H P Kincha and senior officials of the Department of Space participated in the inaugural function held simultaneously at ISRO Headquarters, Bangalore and IIT, Bombay. While Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Senior Executive F C Kohli, IIT, Bombay Director Ashok Mishra, Government of Gujarat Principal Secretary P Panneerval, Government of Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary Dr (Ms) Joyce Sankaran were present in IIT, Bombay.

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