Indian Institutes of Technology - IIT Roorkee

History of Audio Video Research Center

Engaged in production of Educational Television Programmes, Audio Visual Research Center was established at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (the erstwhile University of Roorkee) by the University Grants Commission on the recommendations of the task force of Mass Communication and educational Technology in September 1983.

AVRC is one of the seventeen media centers set up by the UGC. The Educational Television Programmes (ETV) produced at these centers reach out to as many as twenty million viewers everyday through India's National Television Channel "Doordarshan" under the slot "Countrywide Classroom" and a sixteen hours non-stop, telecasting of educational programmes through satellite on New educational channel "Gyan Darshan" from 5.45 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. every day on Cable TV.

During 1999-2000, the center has produced 33 educational programmes covering various subjects like earth science, ecology, wildlife, chemistry, maths, sports, social sciences etc. despite staffing constraints. Of these 4 programmes were produced in Hindi.

The Center also undertakes research in all aspects of educational technology in relation to learning for both urban and rural college going students in various disciplines. It invites faculty from within and outside the Institute as subject experts to participate in the activities of the center to write scripts on the topics of their subject specialization followed by the production of film. During the year the center has conducted 14 feedback studies for the programmes produced by the center which were of immense value for future programme productions. Hitherto, the center has made about 240 programmes covering various subjects and areas.

Source: IIT Roorkee official website.