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Lovely Professional University (LPU) made a bold decision to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its academic and administrative functions for its 3,000 faculty and staff and 25,000 plus students, by using state-of-the-art available technology. The decision to adopt innovative technologies was taken with a vision to automate all functions with transparency and inclusiveness. One of the key initiatives was the development of its own unique software University Management System (UMS). Any one sitting in any part of the world can login into the UMS using internet or web browser.

The UMS has helped in streamlining of various university functions. It has reduced time required on various activities and has also helped in improving employee performance. Following is the list of some of modules with key accomplishments:

E-Governance supports better control and monitoring of all the processes. This module also helps in tracking the work performance of every employee and employees can also see their own performance online as well as the tasks assigned to them. This proves to be invaluable for appraisals.

Relationship Management System helps users in sharing feedback, filing complaints or building repair, requests etc., and runs across all departments. The complaints automatically move to the next level if they are not addressed and can be tracked. It helps in improving performance by getting the real time feedback from students, staff, and parents.

Payment Tracking System is designed to track the progress of payments to any vendor/staff or any outside agency. This system brings transparency by tracking the payment process and reasons for delay in payment.

Learning Management System gives a platform to students and faculty to interact. Teachers can post announcements, assignment(s), and term papers. Students can upload assignments and term papers. Marks and grade for assignments, term papers, projects etc., can also be uploaded. Timetables for classes, along with the room and lab details can also be viewed. The uploading of CAPSTONE/Industrial Training projects is also managed through this system. Teachers use it to mark attendance of students and it can also be viewed at the same time by students and their parents.

Online Degree/DMC validation: Any organisation can validate the academic credentials of a student through this interface. This is helpful to the students for the purposes of VISA application, immigration, and employment. Online Question Bank Software: This is one of the most innovative modules. It generates various types of question from a set of large number of questions stored in the question bank to evaluate the learning level of students for each course. This scores over the manual mode of making question papers, which is time consuming and complicated.

Placement Module: The data on student transcripts and test scores can be filtered according to company needs in one go and can be sent to the company by an email. It can register students for placements, assist students using SMS and emails on placement announcements, helps companies shortlist students and assist university authorities in the analysis of school and department wise placement performance.

Student Card System can be used like debit cards by students to purchase any item from designated vendors on the campus without carrying cash.

Hostel Allocation System helps the 10,000 plus students every year to select hostel rooms in real time.

University has made a huge investment on this interactive UMS system using number of routers, servers, WiFi Zone directors and access points, and in setting up the data storage and processing center. It has cost the university close to Rs 15 crores but returns on this investment is huge. The UMS is a wonderful product which is robust and has the potential to expand to meet the increasing demand of staff, faculty, students, and stakeholders in the future.