Workshop cum hands-on session on virtual labs held at NIT Srinagar

Srinagar, Jun 28: The day-long workshop and hands-on session on virtual labs was organized on Wednesday by the Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology (NIT Srinagar) in collaboration with ITT Delhi on the campus.
The Virtual Labs project is an initiative of Ministry of Education, GOI under the aegis of National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT). This project is a group of 12 actively participating institutes and IIT Delhi is the coordinating institute.
The inaugural session of the workshop was presided over by Director NIT Srinagar Prof. (Dr.) Sudhakar Yedla, who was Chief Guest on the occasion. A large number of students from Baramulla and other districts participated in the mega workshop.
The event was also graced by Dr. M. A. Shah (HoD Physics), Er Prateek Sharma, Sr. Field Officer, IIT Delhi, Prof. GM Rather, Prof. Prince Ganai, Prof. Mohd. Ikram, Prof. Seemin Rubab, Dr.Vijay Kumar, Dr. Mohd Zubair Ansari (Coordinator Virtual Lab NIT Srinagar), and Dr.Harkirat Singh were present on the occasion.
In his key address, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Yedla said over the past several years, learning has undergone significant changes.
“With advancements in technology and new educational approaches, the learning landscape has completely transformed,” he said.
Prof. Yedla said today students have access to a wide range of learning opportunities and resources that were not available to us when we were children. The integration of technology into education has significantly expanded the learning possibilities for children at a young age, he said.
” The advancements in technology have opened up new avenues for practical learning. Under these circumstances, institutions like NIT, IIT’s thought that it may be a good idea to show those experiments at least in the virtual world,” Director NIT Srinagar said.
Prof. Yedla also congratulated IIT Delhi and the Ministry of Education for bringing out these virtual labs for students. Such hands-on sessions on virtual labs are important and need of the hour. I congratulate Dr. MA Shah and his team for gathering so many students on the campus, he said.
“We will not be confined to NIT campus. We are opening up educational opportunities and providing access to knowledge and equipment not only engineering graduates but also to valley-based school and college going students,” he said.
In his message, Registrar NIT Srinagar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said Virtual labs offer a dynamic and interactive platform for students to explore, experiment, and apply their knowledge, and skills in various scientific disciplines.
“Such labs are the need of the hour and students can analyze experimental data, draw conclusions, and present their findings in a structured manner and enhance their scientific knowledge,” he added.
HOD Electronics & Communication Engineering Prof. GM Rather also shared his views about virtual labs and its benefits with the students.
In his welcome address, HOD Physics Dr. M. A. Shah said expressed his gratitude to Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Yedla and Er Prateek Sharma, Sr. Field Officer, IIT Delhi, faculty members from department and valley-based schools for attending the mega hands session on virtual labs.
“Virtual labs provide equal access to practical learning experiences for students, regardless of their geographical locations. It eliminates barriers such as limited resources, or remote locations, ensuring that all students can participate and benefit from hands-on experiments,” Dr. Shah said.
Er. P Sharma from IIT Delhi said for the first time, such an initiative has been taken up in remote experimentation. We have gathered here to learn and understand virtual labs, it is easy to use and easily accessible, he said.
“Virtual labs provide flexibility in terms of time and location. Students can access virtual labs at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection,” he said.
Earlier the workshop Coordinator Dr. Mohd Zubair Ansari highlighted the importance and role of virtual labs and their brief history in India. Virtual labs are bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, he added.
A formal vote was presented by Prof. Seemin Rubab. She expressed her gratitude to Director, Registrar NIT, Er Prateek Sharma, Sr. Field Officer, IIT Delhi, and other dignitaries from both NIT Srinagar and other institutions for making the event successful.
Around 200 students from various schools of Baramulla districts attended the workshop.