Gujarat Is No 1 - First time in India that any state-level Government University conducted an online entrance exam

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has bagged the prestigious eIndia Digital Learning Award for ICT enabled University of the Year. The Jury’s Choice award was given in recognition of the path-breaking initiative of taking Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GCET) online. GTU conducted the first ever online entrance examination for a state university in July 2009. GTU partnered with MeritTrac Services, India’s largest Skill Assessment Company for the online entrance exam from 1st to 5th July 2009 at 37 online test centers spread across 11 cities in Gujarat. It was the first time in India that any state-level Government University conducted an online entrance exam. This exam was held for the admissions to Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Masters of Computer Application (MCA) courses in all GTU affiliated Institutions throughout Gujarat. MeritTrac Services, as an assessment partner managed the entire technology & delivery process of the exam. A total of 22,797 candidates took this 2 hour Online Test, in three batches every day. The entire process was managed online right from application processing to online counseling for seat allocation. Instantaneous evaluation of candidate responses ensured that the individual candidate scores were computed and displayed to the candidate on test completion. This feature ensured complete transparency of the examination process and enhanced the candidate’s belief in the admission process of the University.

According to Manish Bharadwaj, IAS, ex-Director of Technical Education, Govt. of Gujarat expressed great satisfaction at having won the award and praised the efforts of the staff & faculty of Gujarat Technological University for having successfully delivered GCET 2009. He also thanked the team from MeritTrac that had worked tirelessly as a partner to deliver GCET.

According to Prof. Bhuptani, Registrar, Gujarat Technological University, “We are elated to have won the eIndia Digital Learning ICT-enabled University Award 2009.For the first time in India, a state university successfully automated the examination delivery process-ensuring a fair & transparent testing process and a quick turnaround in announcing results. We are pleased to have found a capable partner in MeritTrac for successfully executing online Gujarat Common Entrance Test.”

MeritTrac supported the university in automating the examination delivery process and by ensuring quick turn around time for publishing question papers in a secure manner, setting up testing infrastructure across the state within existing college computer labs, managing the entire test administration and announcing results. GCET also had an online solution for student counseling & allocation of college seats.

According to Madan Padaki, Co- Founder & CEO, MeritTrac Services “We are delighted that GTU bagged the jury’s choice award for the ICT-enabled University 2009. We credit the visionary leadership at GTU which supported us all the way, creating a path-breaking online examination process for similar exams across India. We foresee more institutions joining the online bandwagon enthused by this success”

courtesy: Business Standard