BENGALURU: Karnataka Examination Authority has launched an app to connect students participating in this year’s KEA counselling with senior students who secured seats through KEA counselling last year.Called KEA Connect, the app has been developed to help students navigate through the counseling process. “Currently, there are many middle men who are taking advantage of the vulnerable students and charging them for helping them with the counseling process. We want to eliminate such middlemen and make the process hassle free for students,” said H Prasanna, executive director, KEA.These senior students will serve as mentors, guiding aspirants through the counselling and admission process. This guidance and support can be provided virtually, and each senior student may mentor up to five candidates. Female candidates will be guided only by girls, and boys by boys. Incase, a student is not happy with the mentor, he/she can reject and apply for a new mentor. No personal data will be shared and the student will be chatting through the app. The mentoring will be done between 5pm-7pm, as the mentors are also pursuing their own education and academic responsibilities.KEA, using its data base from last year, has sent a message to all the previous candidates seeking interest in it. It has also circulated the link for students to register for the programme through all engineering colleges. Participation in the initiative is voluntary. Mentees,will have a pop up question, once they log in, on whether they want to apply for this service. So far, 1372 candidates have agreed to become mentors. 1,724 current students have sought help and have become mentees. Around 89 pairs have been set up so far. KEA has also installed chat bot kiosks in its revamped office. “Students can ask any doubts at the kiosks. It responds in the preferred language,” said Prasanna. Meanwhile, KEA is also offering free wifi service for students who are visiting their office for admission purposes.
