KSOU seeks one-time recognition of courses from UGC

Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) Vice Chancellor D Shivalingaiah has said that necessary steps have been taken to ensure that University Grants Commission (UGC) withdraws the derecognition of its courses.

UGC had issued an order on June 16, 2015 derecognising KSOU courses since 2012-13 for violation of its guidelines. The VC said a one-time recognition of the courses has been sought to help existing students.

Shivalingaiah told reporters here on Saturday that most of the documents and information about compliance of UGC guidelines and directions had been submitted but the UGC sought a comprehensive report again on December 6, 2016. “Around 40,000 pages of information in soft copy has been submitted to the UGC and a positive response is expected in a fortnight. We have sought a retrospective one-time recognition of the courses to help existing students and restoration of recognition from 2016-17 as guidelines have been followed,” he said.

Prof D Shivalingaiah, who assumed the office of vice chancellor of KSOU on March 11, 2016, said, “In the past 10 months, I have visited the UGC eight times and met the HRD minister twice to get the derecognition revoked. We have also urged state government to issue an order recognising KSOU degrees for employment and also higher education to secure the future of youth. The UGC had derecognised KSOU courses for violation of territorial jurisdiction, allowing academic collaborators to conduct exams and also to evaluate, offering of technical courses without prior permissions from the competent authority,” Shivalingaiah said.

“Following a court order, many students of KSOU have been recruited by Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). Several cases, challenging the UGC order to derecognise the KSOU courses, are pending before the courts. In a case that was filed before Madras High Court by students, the KSOU was directed to conduct exams to existing students of Tamil Nadu. When KSOU declined citing the UGC’s order, the open university had to face contempt of court case. Finally, KSOU had to start exams for around 7,500 students in Tamil Nadu on November 14, which is still under progress. However, the percentage of appearance is low. The results of the technical courses will be kept pending till approval of courses by AICTE, which is the responsibility of the academic collaborators. KSOU will support them in the interest of students,” he said.

Despite cancellation of memoranda of understanding with academic collaborators, following the UGC’s direction, some of them were found to be using the logo of KSOU on their portals and websites to market the courses offered by them. Notices have been issued to such violators and action has been taken, he said. He pegged the financial loss to KSOU in the past two years at Rs 120 crore.

Registrars Somasekhar and Suresh and Finance Officer Kadher Pasha were also present.
DH News Service