BENGALURU: The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has launched a mobile application named KEA Connect to facilitate connections between students participating in this year's KEA counselling and senior students who secured seats through the same process last year. The app aims to provide guidance and eliminate the involvement of middlemen who often exploit vulnerable students.
Purpose of KEA Connect
According to H Prasanna, Executive Director of KEA, the app is designed to help students navigate the counselling process smoothly. “Currently, there are many middlemen who are taking advantage of vulnerable students and charging them for assistance with counselling. We want to eliminate such intermediaries and make the process hassle-free for students,” Prasanna stated.
Mentorship Details
The senior students will act as mentors, guiding aspirants through the counselling and admission procedures. This support will be provided virtually, with each senior student mentoring up to five candidates. To ensure comfort and safety, female candidates will be paired with female mentors, and male candidates with male mentors. If a student is dissatisfied with their assigned mentor, they can reject them and request a new one. No personal data will be shared, as all communication will occur within the app.
Mentoring sessions will be conducted between 5 PM and 7 PM, considering that the mentors are also pursuing their own education and have academic responsibilities.
Registration and Participation
KEA has utilized its database from the previous year to send messages to all former candidates, seeking their interest in becoming mentors. Additionally, a registration link has been circulated through all engineering colleges. Participation in the initiative is voluntary. When mentees log in, a pop-up question will appear, asking if they wish to apply for this service.
So far, 1,372 candidates have agreed to become mentors, while 1,724 current students have sought help and registered as mentees. Approximately 89 mentor-mentee pairs have been established.
Additional Features
KEA has also installed chatbot kiosks in its revamped office. “Students can ask any doubts at the kiosks, which respond in the preferred language,” said Prasanna. Furthermore, KEA is offering free Wi-Fi service for students visiting the office for admission purposes.
