Bhubaneswar: IIT Bhubaneswar has taken all the steps to protect its students and staff from coronavirus. Taking steps to streamline academics, it has given the students an option of normal as well as live online streaming of theory classes in an innovative way.
Speaking on the occasion, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, Prof. R.V. Raja Kumar said, “We took proactive measures to prevent contact and spread of COVID-19. We gave options to the students to stay in the campus or go to their respective homes, respecting their wishes made as per their safety and risk assessment in this crisis time. In the campus, all actions have been taken for safety and isolation and classes are continuing.”
“The classes are video-streamed live to all those who have gone to their respective homes or hostel rooms. The students can put their questions live through chat and the same can be immediately answered by a teacher. This is done to ensure that the semester of the students is saved, in the unlikely case of a prolonged crisis. The live video lectures can be taken by a student on a desktop or laptop or even on a mobile phone,” he added.
“The Institute is making use of Microsoft Teams software through which online lectures are being facilitated for students. Attendance is also being taken online through the system. Our students staying anywhere in the world can access the lectures. This will also help them from sickness due to isolation. The live classes are going on flawlessly with only some occasional minor issues. The institute requested the faculty to save the videos for future references too. If any student faces any problem to access the live streaming, he/she can get the saved video link to watch the session at his convenience,” said the Director.
Among the safety measures taken by the institute are:
- Cancellation of all foreign travel.
- Putting biometric attendance in abeyance
- Hostel workers asked to stay inside the campus, restricting movement to outside.
- Maintaining high standards of sanitation and hygiene.
- Thermal screening particularly of those coming into the campus.
- Preparedness for right medical care and transitory isolation if any.
- Procurement of related equipment such as thermal screening scanners, fumigation apparatus etc.
- Proper sanitation of classrooms, tables, door handles, railings
- Spraying of disinfectant.
- Organising awareness talks and circulating relevant information to all in the campus.
IIT Bhubaneswar will observe the “Janata Curfew” tomorrow.