Free Software Movement Karnataka(FSMK) - Academicians Chapter

Free software or Swatantra / Libre software is the collection of software that can be used, studied, and
modified, and can also be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified forms with the
condition that subsequent users are guaranteed the same freedoms that are mentioned in the GNU
General Public License.

The Free Software Movement was conceived in 1983 by Richard Stallman to make these freedoms
available to every computer user. Since Swatantra software may be freely redistributed, it generally is
available at little or no cost.

A recent World Bank study has shown that a huge percentage of technical education students are
unemployable. The nature of Swatantra software has given enormous innovative potential for students
to increase their technical capabilities. Today, world-wide a large number of students and programmers
contribute to GNU/Linux.

We, at FSMK, a not-for-profit organisation, are a team of individuals mostly from the IT and Education
sectors involved in various Swatantra software related technical activities in Karnataka. Our interests
reside in strengthening the technical skills of students, academicians and professionals using the
various possibilities of Swatantra software.

The Academic chapter of FSMK is proposed to be a state-wide forum of faculty from various
technical education institutions with a strong interest in Swatantra software. The goal of the Academic
chapter is to provide a “springboard” for members pursuing professional pathways within the field of
electrical, electronics and computer science and evangelising the cause of Swatantra software through a
variety of activities including seminars and networking opportunities.

This would create awareness about Free/Swatantra software and also to take up Swatantra software to
the academia enlightening them as to why Swatantra Software is an ethical and beneficial choice for
academic institutions and the people involved. As the chapter grows, increased collaboration among
Universities across the state is anticipated, leading to further expansion of opportunities considered
crucial to the successful growth of Swatantra Software in the State of Karnataka.

We urge you to pro-actively involve in the activities pertaining to Swatantra Software for mutual
benefit. We wish to highlight a few more important points to convey the importance of adopting
Swatantra Software and forming an Academicians Chapter.

Why join the academic chapter?

If you are inclined towards knowing the latest technology trends around you then this is the right place
as we are creating a discussion group of people from various Swatantra software domains. We
can link you up with various dignitaries in your area of interest to help carry out research.

Do you want to make a significant change at your institution?

We will help you switch to Swatantra Software there by saving institution's money which is wasted on
buying proprietary licenses.
A complete stack of Swatantra software for the Computer science to teach and handle various courses
and labs is available and similar software stack for other disciplines is in the pipeline.

We would help you to develop indigenous software for in-house operations at your institution( such as
campus automation etc).

How will it benefit me as an academician?

Apart from increasing your knowledge, the learning environment can be improved by learning
management system tools such as Moodle which works on the principle of social constructionist
pedagogy. The chapter will also provide a platform for academicians to discuss problems faced by the
academia and to arrive at solutions through a healthy debate. Faculty can also share the best practices
they follow at their institutions as well.

It increases the prospects of gaining credible projects for yourselves and students. Immense
opportunities of research as Swatantra Software opens a new arena. Good opportunities of meeting
quality Research guides from Elite institutions and successful industries.

Training on course specific tools like Octave, Scilab for Electronics, Telecommunication and
Electrical, CAD tools for Mechanical, apart from the generally useful tools like GCC, GDB, Python,
LAMP etc... can be imparted through such a forum.

Opportunities of growing creatively using Media tools like Audacity, GIMP, Blender,and numerous
other tools.

What is the role of FSMK in this Chapter?

FSMK would facilitate organization of inter-chapter activities, and regional level recognition for the
contribution of the Chapters, and Chapter members towards free software movement. Different levels
of memberships based on the accomplishments shall be provided by FSMK, like organizations like
IETE and IEEE.

Have such Chapters been been tried out previously?

In Karnataka this would be the first of such attempts. However, the inspiring example of the changes in
the Kerala school and college curriculum by efforts of the Kerala teachers associations gives proof of
synergy between the students and the academician chapters in technical institutions manifesting the
potential of such chapters. This group has successfully converted their entire system “Free-Free as in
Freedom” by switching to Swatantra Software. They have also built their own applications and come
up with free software based learning in Govt. Schools.

Lastly and importantly,

Swatantra Software is the future, and for the future to be ours, we need to become a part of it. Forming
this Chapter and being a part of it is the best opportunity for such an association.