ABSTRACT

Information Technology – Establishment of Knowledge Data Centre at Anna University in Collaboration with Anna University M/s. Sun Microsystems and 50 Engineering Colleges – Administrative Sanction – issued.

Information Technology Department

G.O.(MS).No .4
Dated:18.04.2005

Read:

1) G.O.(Ms).No.21, IT Department, dated 15-07-03

2) G.O.(Rt).No.66, IT Department, dated 20-08-04

3) From Managing Director, ELCOT Lr.No.GMM/KDC/020/2003, dated 04-05-04.

ORDER:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Government of Tamil Nadu, Anna University and Sun Microsystems in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 22-3-2003 for the establishment of Knowledge Data Center (KDC) at Anna University. Orders were issued in G.O.Ms.No.21, IT Department dated 15.7.2003 constituting a Joint Executive Committee (JEC) to assist in the Planning and Development of the KDC and subsequent e-Government projects and Plan with the Vice Chancellor, Anna University as Chairman and Secretary, Information Technology Department as the Co-Chairman and Managing Director, ELCOT as the Member Secretary.

2. It has now been decided to establish the KDC at Anna University and it will be a technology resource center for the student community. The KDC will be connected to all the Engineering colleges affiliated with Anna University and later on to all the Govt. Polytechnics, Medical, Law, Arts and Science colleges and Higher Secondary Schools under single network with suitable connectivity. The KDC will serve mainly in promoting research and disseminating Knowledge and fostering cooperation between academic and Industrial communities. Services like e-education, online learning, distance learning, digital library, common messaging & collaboration infrastructure, HR Management, IT Management etc. will be provided in KDC.

3. In view of the growing technology and the importance of the project, the JEC in its meeting held on 5.8.2003 constituted a Task force committee to assist in analyzing the proposal and the strategy to be adopted for the implementation of KDC project in a phased manner. The JEC has discussed in detail about the proposal and suggested suitable strategy to be adopted for the implementation of

KDC project and finally agreed to the technical projections and financial aspect of the KDC project proposal at a likely cost of Rs.21.36 Crores for the Phase-1 operation. Based on the proposal of the Managing Director ELCOT, the Vice Chancellor, Anna University has sent a detailed proposal for the establishment and implementation of KDC project at Anna University as detailed below :-

4. The proposal envisages for the use of 50,000 users scalable to 1,00,000 users in the KDC network during the Phase-1 operation. The KDC Phase-1 on implementation and stabilization, Phase-2 operation will be launched and connected on to all Government Polytechnics, Medical, Law, Arts and Science Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools under a single network. The funds required for establishing the Phase-2 operation is planned to be based on the internal resource and also from the concerned departments, which are going to be benefited out of this project. On completion of the KDC project a single large Education Network will exist connecting schools, Arts & Science colleges, Engineering, Medical, Law colleges and Polytechnics etc.

5. The details of the KDC project implementation as envisaged in Phase-1 and Phase-2 are given below.

The following services will be deployed in Phase -1:

1) e-Education

2) e-Learning

3) e-Tutoring

4) Digital Library

5) Portal Interface

6) Messaging & Collaboration (Common e-mail infrastructure)

7) Identity Management (Directory Services)

8) Competency centers for the development of e-Learning applications.

9) Online Courseware.

Services included in the KDC-Phase-2

The following services will be rolled out in the Phase-II of the KDC services and that this will build on the success, cost savings and ROI of phase1, and will be rolled out without any disruption to the services phase-1

1) IT Management

2) Single management point for all Data center Operations

3) HR Management

4) Records Management

5) Payment Systems

6) Online courseware of more than 90 Sun Academic Initiative (SAI) courses for web based access to the students of Tamil Nadu.

6. The likely financial implication for the Phase-1 operation of the KDC project is as estimated:-

Rs. in Crores

7. The Vice-Chancellor, Anna University has requested the Government to approve the KDC project phase-1. The Government after detailed examination approve the KDC Project -1 and accord administrative sanction for implementation of KDC Project at Anna University with the likely financial implications as indicated in para 6 above.

8. The Vice Chancellor, Anna University is requested to send necessary proposals for sanction of the state share of Rs.3.19 crores being the contribution of Government of Tamil Nadu after obtaining Rs.11.53 Crores from Sun Microsystems by way of discounts on Sun Hardware, Rs.2.00 Crores from 50 Engineering Colleges and investment of Anna University of Rs.4.64 Crores (Anna University’s fund Rs.2.14 Crores + MHRD, Government of India, Rs.2.50 Crores.)

9. This order issues with the concurrence of Finance Department vide its U.O.No.24150/Education-I/05 dated 11-04-05.