UGC approves 17 courses of KSOU

The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has managed to get recognition for 17 courses, finally.

The Distance Education Bureau of University Grants Commission (UGC) has sanctioned recognition to the varsity to offer the courses from the academic year 2018-19 to 2022-23.

The varsity had applied for 31 courses but the UGC has granted permission for 17 Arts, Science and Commerce courses. The courses that need at least 60 hours of practical classes have not been approved.

It can be recalled that the KSOU’s recognition was cancelled in 2013 as the university was found to have opened centres outside Karnataka in violation of the UGC norms, had signed MoUs with private institutions, and was offering technical courses without the approval of the apex bodies concerned.

After repeated approaches by the authorities concerned, the UGC had asked the KSOU to give details of its regional centres, its infrastructure, staff strength and other resources. A commission, headed by professor H P Dixit, had studied the KSOU documents in December 2016 and had submitted a report to the UGC.