Mumbai: MU’s online attendance system, QR code stickers help reduce goof-ups

Mumbai University’s south Mumbai campus. File Pic/Ashish Raje

Mumbai University (MU) has implemented proactive measures to strengthen the accuracy and integrity of its examination processes. The introduction of a sticker with a QR code that is placed on answer sheets and an online attendance system marked a significant shift in ensuring the precision and reliability of evaluations, particularly in time for the winter session examination. These steps were put in place to prevent delays in result declarations.

A crucial milestone was achieved as MU successfully incorporated the online attendance system for the first time during the BEd course examination conducted in September. This marked a pivotal moment in the university's approach to leveraging technology for exam management and supervision. The recently announced results for the second-semester examination indicated a commendable 84.42 per cent pass rate among students.

This success was directly attributed to the efficient implementation of the online attendance system and the sticker methodology. Significantly, the administration emphasised that none of the students faced result withholding due to the new procedures. The implementation of the sticker system and the online attendance system has demonstrated its effectiveness, not only in ensuring accuracy in the evaluation process but also in contributing to timely result announcements.

One of the primary benefits highlighted by the university was the notable reduction in malpractices during the examination process. "The implementation of these systems facilitated a more secure and transparent examination environment, which seemingly contributed to the decrease in irregularities," said an insider source from MU.

He added, "The sticker and online attendance system played a pivotal role in maintaining the accuracy of assessments and minimising discrepancies. Moreover, the university's administration lauded the efforts put forth to integrate these systems, ensuring a more efficient and reliable evaluation process. The successful outcome of the second-semester BEd course examination underlines the significance of adopting modern technological solutions to streamline academic evaluations."

"Due to the new online attendance method in winter session examination, the rate of withholding of results has come down to zero. The results will be announced flawlessly and within the stipulated time," said Vice-Chancellor Dr Ravindra Kulkarni. Another MU source said, "A total of 5, 622 students had registered for the second semester BEd examination. Out of them, 5,487 appeared and 4,487 passed while 135 were absent and 855 failed. Practically no results were withheld."

A press note released by the university on October 26 stated, "In the previous exam, some students wrote the seat number and barcode wrongly, due to which their results were withheld, which were later declared. As a solution to this, the university has sent a PDF file containing seat numbers, barcodes and other information about the students to every examination centre from this winter session. The file was downloaded by the examination centre and printed on the sticker provided by the university and pasted on the answer sheet of the students. Since there is a QR code on it, the university will get all the information of the student and the results of the students will not be reserved for this reason. Also, the online attendance system was started to check if the student is present in the examination or not.

Examination centre student attendance is recorded in the University's Online Attendance Programme. Due to this, the university immediately knows whether the student is present or not. It also has the facility to register copy cases."

5,622
No of those who registered for 2nd sem BEd exam