An innovative idea

Muttakin Rashid Alvi | Published: July 12, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

We all know innovative ideas can bring about a big change. One of the innovative ideas is the digital admission process, first implemented by the Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) in 2009. The system has been running successfully since its inception. Other universities have also adopted the process, deemed a milestone in digital innovation in the country. It allows a student to apply for admission to a university through only two text messages. Even, not a single form is required.
A lecturer at the SUST said, "The only purpose for developing this app was for saving time and money. Secondly, the entire database is maintained online."Â The system of SMS-based admission registration is an epoch-making one. It has attracted everyone's attention. It has not only made the registration process easier for students but also made the university admission swift. As in all other universities, to check if the fact is correct, a student has to submit his SSC and HSC certificates. But the SUST can know all the information by using the concerned board exam's database. For this reason, the SMS-based admission process succeeded.
Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, former head of CSE department (currently head of EEE department) at the SUST played a vital role in introducing the process. He and the students of his department have set an example by doing it.
It is not easy to collect the information of a student's SSC and HSC exams from a board's database. There is no connectivity between the databases on the results of a student's SSC and HSC exams. So, it is impossible to verify the results of a student without seeing his certificate. Again, when there are spelling mistakes in the names of students, the situation gets worse. The programmers of the CSE department solved this problem. Then it became feasible to combine databases. These databases have been installed on the TeleTalk website.
When a student needs to register for admission to a university, s/he has to send his information regarding HSC exams from a TeleTalk prepaid mobile phone. His/her information is verified by comparing it with the results collected from the education board concerned. If one is found eligible, one is guided to complete the registration process by providing the information as to the centre of one's choice and the unit under which one wants to take part in the admission test. Finally, the registration fee is deducted from one's mobile phone and one is notified by an SMS about completion of the registration process for admission to that particular university. Similarly, one can register for admission to any other university by following the same procedure.
Under the care of Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, eight teachers and five students of the CSE department at the SUST have worked hard for making this happen.
alvimhk@yahoo.com