Patna witnessed a significant development in technical education on Friday. Bihar Engineering University (BEU) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre from Gandhinagar. This partnership promises to transform academic access for engineering students and faculty across the state.
Free Access to National Digital Resources
The agreement establishes free institutional access to national-level digital academic and research resources. All government engineering colleges affiliated with BEU will benefit from this collaboration. Students, research scholars, and faculty members gain entry to a comprehensive range of digital platforms and research databases.
Key Signatories and Attendees
Dr Pradip Kumar, registrar of BEU, and Prof Devika P Madalli, director of the INFLIBNET Centre, formalized the agreement with their signatures. The signing ceremony attracted prominent figures from Bihar's education sector.
Department of Science, Technology and Technical Education (DoSTTE) minister Sunil Kumar attended the event. Departmental secretary Dr Pratima, director Ahmad Mahmood, and BEU vice-chancellor Suresh Kant Verma also participated. Several other senior officials witnessed this important milestone.
Comprehensive Digital Services
A DoSTTE official detailed the extensive services covered under the MoU. BEU and its affiliated government engineering colleges will access multiple platforms including ShodhGanga and ShodhShuddhi. The plagiarism detection system ensures academic integrity.
Other services include One Nation One Subscription (ONOS), IRINS, and the SOUL library automation system. Platforms like IndCat, ShodhChakra, INFED, ILMS, ShodhPrabha and INFYMEET complete the package.
These platforms guarantee integrated and authenticated access to essential resources. E-journals, e-books, theses, patents, and conference information become readily available. Digital research resources now flow directly to Bihar's engineering institutions.
Minister's Vision for Technical Education
Minister Sunil Kumar addressed the gathering with enthusiasm. He emphasized the Bihar government's continuous efforts to link technical education with knowledge, research and innovation. Digital platforms like INFLIBNET provide high-quality academic content on a single platform.
This initiative enables students from government engineering colleges in Bihar to access learning resources comparable to leading national institutions. The minister highlighted how this aligns with the state government's vision. Technical education becomes more accessible, transparent and quality-driven through such partnerships.
Practical Benefits for Students
Departmental secretary Pratima explained the practical advantages of this new arrangement. Students can now access reliable and updated academic material through a single platform. This streamlined access enhances the quality of project work, seminars, theses and research activities.
Dependence on multiple sources reduces significantly. Services like ShodhShuddhi help maintain quality and academic discipline in research writing. The entire academic process becomes more efficient and effective.
A Milestone for Engineering Education
BEU vice-chancellor Suresh Kant Verma described the partnership as a significant milestone for the university. This collaboration strengthens the teaching and research ecosystem of BEU and its affiliated colleges. Integration with the national digital academic network opens new possibilities.
The agreement with INFLIBNET Centre streamlines academic resource management in technical institutions. It promotes the integration of research data and encourages effective use of digital platforms. Bihar's engineering education takes a substantial leap forward with this strategic partnership.
