From b29c3dda2dcf3c0887cb1fe3bbdfd1c437a4a60b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: rsiddharth Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2021 22:13:46 -0500 Subject: md/case-study: add unipune.md --- md/case-study/unipune.md | 64 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 64 insertions(+) create mode 100644 md/case-study/unipune.md diff --git a/md/case-study/unipune.md b/md/case-study/unipune.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..250b0eb --- /dev/null +++ b/md/case-study/unipune.md @@ -0,0 +1,64 @@ + + + +# Case Study: SCMS - Savitribai Phule Pune University Pune, India + +The Department of Scientific Computing, Modeling & Simulation, +Savitribai Phule Pune University Pune, India, has a long history (more +than 20 years) of preferring Free software over proprietary software +in its academic programs. We presently offer two academic degree +programs, one in scientific computing, and the other in modeling & +simulation. Students from both the programs require substantial +interaction with computers and software at an advanced level. + +Although markets are filled with non-free software targeted +specifically at such academic programs, our experience tells us that +their use can be easily avoided. Many high-quality Free Software tools +are available, and some of these are, in fact, better than their +proprietary counterparts. For example, we have been using E-learning +platform Moodle consistently since 2015 to manage courses, conduct +exams, and keep track of every single activity related to various +courses. All our computer labs and servers run on GNU/Linux based +operating systems. We encourage students and faculty to use Free +software tools like Python, Julia, etc., GNU octave or SciLab instead +of MATLAB, Mathics instead of Mathematica, R instead of +S-Plus/SAS/minitab/etc., GNU compilers instead of Intel compilers, +Signal instead of WhatsApp, OpenFOAM instead proprietary CFD tools, +etc. This is in addition to departmental services like ticketing +system (RT), mail client (RoundCube), Git server (Gitlab), etc. + +The ongoing pandemic has seen a big surge for non-free software like +Zoom and Google meet: We find that freedom-respecting platforms like +Jitsi meet for video conferencing, SimpleScreenRecorder and Open +Broadcaster Software (OBS) for screen/video recording, etc., work +great. Recorded classes are in turn hosted on our Moodle or Nextcloud +servers instead of proprietary services like Dropbox, Google drive, +etc. This is possible because we maintain our own servers, and decent +connectivity/bandwidth is available (through the University) to host +these services. + +The pandemic also gave us an opportunity to interact with and help +sister departments to adopt GNU/Linux, Moodle, and Free software in +general: The assurance of readily available local expertise in Free +software was enough for many to start considering a move to Free +software. Shrinking budgets thanks to the pandemic seem to be +providing a financial incentive. + +We wholeheartedly encourage and recommend educational institutions, +students, teachers, administrators, and decision-makers to start using +freedom-respecting Free software tools. We will be happy to advise +(and assist, to whatever extent possible) educational institutions +which are considering adoption of Free Software. + +(On a factual note, the department does not interfere with the +software preferences and decisions related to research funding brought +in by individual researchers.) + +Prof. Mihir Arjunwadkar
+Head,
+Dept. of Scientific Computing, Modeling, and Simulation,
+Savitribai Phule Pune University,
+Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007
+ +Contact details:
+
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