The academic council of Mangaluru University has given its nod to change the nomenclature of BBM, MCJ, MCMS, MLISc, MIB, MHRD, MBA (Tourism administration) from the next academic year.

The decision was taken following the direction of the UGC to all universities in the country to change the nomenclature of certain courses.

Vice Chancellor Prof K Byrappa, who chaired the meeting of the academic council on Monday, said that the UGC had issued a notification with regard to the change in the nomenclature in the Gazette of India on July 23, 2015.

Later, in a reminder to the vice chancellor, the UGC Secretary Jaspal S Sandhu had written on September 11, 2015, “UGC had asked the universities to align the degrees with the degrees specified by the UGC in its notification dated July 5, 2014. The UGC regulations being statutory in nature are binding on universities and colleges and any violation thereafter would render the degrees which are not mentioned in the notification and its subsequent amendments as unrecognised by the UGC.”

Accordingly, the BBM course will now be BBA, both MCJ and MCMS courses will become MA (Journalism and Mass Communication), MLISc will be MLib ISc (Master of Library and Information Science), Master of International Business (MIB) will become MCom (International business), Master of Human Resource Development (MHRD) will be renamed as MCom (HRD) and MBA (Tourism administration) will be MBA (Tourism and Travel Management).

Prof Mallikarjunappa said, “The Board has discussed the issue of changing the nomenclature of BBM to BBA as per the UGC directions. After a detailed discussion, the Board has resolved to retain the existing nomenclature of BBM, since the change in nomenclature will affect the colleges that have grand-in-aid. The BBM course is being offered by various colleges affiliated to the university for the past several years. Changing the nomenclature of the course will affect the colleges.”

The vice chancellor, however, quoted the former Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande, explaining that all universities in Karnataka have been instructed to follow the UGC rules in the Higher Education Council meeting. The objections and suggestions put forth by the members of the academic council will be brought to the notice of the UGC. Change in the nomenclature will not affect students who are undergoing courses and those who have already obtained degrees, Byrappa assured.

With the UGC giving thrust on the add-on courses, the academic council of Mangaluru University has given its nod to introduction of add-on course in aviation and hospitality management. The course is primarily meant for undergraduate students pursuing Science, Arts and Commerce courses in colleges. The career- and market-oriented programme provides students means to get self-employed and become empowered.

If a student opts for the add-on course for one year he or she will get a certificate. If the course is continued in the second year of a graduation course, the student will get a diploma in the course; if there is further continuation of the course in the third year, the student will get advanced diploma certificate.

Two-year BEd

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has made the duration of BEd two years across the country. The proposal on the same was approved by the academic council. The extended duration of the course will come into force from 2016-17.