UoM offered distance learning courses without UGC nod

 University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken a strong exception to ‘online’ and ‘outreach’ programmes for undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses offered by the University of Mysore under its Distance Learning Courses (DLC).

In a missive, dated Dec 4, 2015, to Vice-chancellor Prof K S Rangappa, Education Officer of UGC, Megha Kaushik has sought a reply from the former within 15 days of the receipt of the letter,  MLC Go Madhusudhan told media here on Thursday.

Madhusudan, who had lodged a complaint in this regard with UGC Secretary Prof DR Jaspal Singh Sandhu on August 25, produced a copy of the letter from the education officer that was circulated to media later. The official has sought clarification ‘as  to why the university is offering online/ outreach programmes without getting approval of UGC for the same’.

The officer has clearly stated, “The Distance Education Bureau, UGC, is in receipt of a complaint from G Madhusudhan, MLC, alleging that the University of Mysore is conducting several UG and PG programmes through their 129 centres by way of online and outreach programmes, outside their territorial jurisdiction, throughout the country.

However, it has been observed the university is not authorised to offer programmes through distance mode and also UGC, till date, has not given approval to any universities to offer any programmes through ‘online’ mode,” the MLC said quoting the letter sent to the VC  Madhusudan further alleged that Rangappa has been running a racket of fake degree certificates in the names of ‘online’ and ‘outreach’ programmes.

When Rangappa was previously the VC of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), he had introduced many courses and was involved in certificates scam. He had sold degree certificates of technical, para-medical and other courses. It is because of wrongdoings of Rangappa, the KSOU was de-recognised, he alleged.