SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Impact of Satellite Technology on University Teaching and Research

- Anjana V.R (Hindi) Education is a critical component of economic growth and development. The continuous absence of quality education in developing countries means dependence on other developed countries for its provision. In this context we think about cross-national teleconferencing as an adjunct to and sometimes a substitute for low cost dissemination of quality information and knowledge. Satellite linked internet services have played a tremendous role in education through video conferencing, where participants are tutored remotely from metropolitan cities like New Delhi and Mumbai to far flung areas in North Eastern states. India has launched a communication satellite, GSAT-3 for exclusive use of educational sector. It has envisaged the development of a nationwide education network called Edu-Sat with the aim of providing a sustainable distance education service in India using GSAT-3 satellite in 20 September 2004 by ISRO. EduSat is the first exclusive satellite for serving the educational sector. It is specially configured for audio visual medium, employing digital interactive classroom and multimedia system. The satellite will have multiple regional beams covering different parts of India-five Ku-band transponders with spot beams covering northern, north-eastern, eastern, southern and western regions of the country, a Ku-band transponder with its footprint covering the Indian mainland region and six C-band transponders with their footprints covering the entire country .This EduSat network provides satellite based tele-education facilities to students and teachers of the schools and colleges across the country. All educational institutions having Satellite interactive terminals (SITs) or Receive Only Terminals (ROTs) can now receive educational programs from EduSat. Curriculum based education is being imparted via the satellite by the University Grants Commission(UGC) through the consortium for educational communication (CEC).The infrastructure of EduSat is being utilized by Indira Gandhi National University(IGNOU) for curriculum based education, teachers training, professional educational courses and for conducting tele-conferencing sessions for software content generation. National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) also conducts interactive orientation or training programs of teachers and teachers educators. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) utilizes EduSat network for group discussion, lectures, demonstrations, video shows, training and capacity building programs. In summary, communication challenges of developing nations require a range of suitable country specific solutions. Solutions appropriate to prevailing economic, geographical and technological conditions, appropriate to end user requirements and taking into account local price structure and cultural idiosyncrasies. The use of satellite communication in developing economies for meeting communication needs such as broadcast and multicast of digital content, entertainment television, voice and telephony networks, data communications and internet as well as mobile and personal communication has a positive impact on the development of these economies. As explored in this article, the impact is tremendous in critical areas of the economy such as medicine, agriculture, education, commerce etc.

HKMCE MAGAZINE 2009

Page 22

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

HKMCE MAGAZINE 2009

Page 22