Mysore: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for expansion of ISRO's exclusive satellite-integrated VSAT channel with two-way video and audio network, for the varsity's affiliated engineering colleges.

The MoU was signed in the presence of A. Bhaskaranarayana, ISRO SatCom Director; VTU Vice Chancellor H.P. Khincha; and principals of VTU-affiliated colleges.

In 2003, VTU became the first university to use ISRO's EDUSAT programme. This pilot project was launched by ISRO using GSAT-3 to introduce new techniques for distance education / e-learning using multi-casting & interactive multimedia system.

The EDUSAT or GSAT-3 was the first satellite of the Education Satellite System and had a special configuration for multiple beams covering different regions of India, enabling it to provide real time or offline multimedia, multicast of classes taken by the experts.

ISRO has been providing the VSAT equipment to 50 colleges affiliated to VTU under the EDUSAT project. A two-way audio-video interaction between students in remote colleges and experts in the studio is provided under the VSAT facility.

The first batch of 30 colleges received the equipment in 2007.

Now that the second batch of VSAT equipment has been delivered to 20 more institutions, the interactive network has been expanded to cover 50 colleges.

The university has been working with the space agency to cover over 150 institutions affiliated to it in subsequent phases.

Necessary VSAT equipment will be provided by ISRO, which has been using modern space technology for the promotion of education and training through EDUSAT.

The university will coordinate with its affiliated engineering colleges to manage the VSAT network.