THE Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebisi Balogun, has said that the new electronic system of testing adopted for the university's post-UME was an attempt to eliminate fraud and cheating of any sort Professor Balogun, who spoke at the venue of the examination, said the world has gone global and FUTA as a University of Technology must fall in line with global changes.

He, however, said being the first of its kind in the University, a few challenges were faced during preparation which he described as the price for starting anything new.

Speaking on the financial implication of the project, the Vice-Chancellor said for one to embark on any good project and succeed, one must look beyond the cost of such project to its benefits.

Therefore, the university engaged in Private Public Partnership (PPP) with Electronic Testing Company (ETC) to make the project successful.

On the benefits to be derived from the electronic testing system, the Vice-Chancellor elucidated that the process is fast, easy and devoid of fraud as candidates are placed in cubicles of their own and made to answer a set of systematically arranged questions that defer from cubicle to cubicle.

He also noted that the examination would be marked immediately and results available in less than twenty four hours.

Furthermore, Professor Balogun said the test centre was open to other universities and schools, adding that it is meant to serve both the university and its environs.

According to him, FUTA, being among the first set of Universities to adopt the electronic testing system, would gradually imbibe the electronic testing system for its periodic examinations.

Speaking also, Mr. Idris Danjuma Ibrahim, Principal Executive Officer, National Universities Commission (NUC), expressed delight at the progress the system has made so far.

He acknowledged that FUTA has stood out from the other few that have adopted the system in its packaging and organisation.

He said the electronic testing system was part of nation building judging by the new world order of globalization, adding it is the starting point of an easily accessible and stress-free data base for the Nation's educational system.

Mr. Ibrahim, who said the electronic testing system would help Universities select sound candidates who are capable of defending their O'level results, stated that the commission was on a campaign for all secondary schools and Universities in the country to become digital in order to appreciate and adopt the new testing system.

In the same vein, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) of the University, Professor Debo Adeyewa, who doubles as the chairman of the admissions committee, said the facility was error-free, smooth and e-compliant.

He said the committee encountered major challenges during the preparation of the facility which were surmounted by passion and determination.

Speaking on the process, Professor Adeyewa said biometrics was used to screen candidates for the examination in order to eliminate impersonation and discourage them from participating two or more times.

He also said the electronic screening system formed a data base for each candidate such that they would maintain the same data until graduation if admitted.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor said further that the examination was arranged in such a way that each candidate sits for not more than a combination of five subjects, not forgetting to mention that adequate provision was made for candidates who are not yet computer literate, to give everyone a fair chance.

He commended the efforts of the Man-O-War, the University Security Unit and the Special Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FUTA Unit) on the control and management of candidates and traffic during the period.

Also, a candidate, Temitope Adegbenro, who spoke after the examination , commended the effort of the University, saying that the process is fair and strictly based on merit.

He urged FUTA to continue to serve as an example for other Universities to follow.

Meanwhile, candidates who had their examinations on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 had since commenced checking their results as the results were made available in less than 24 hours after the completion of the exercise.