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The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) hopes to get back recognition for its courses in the academic year 2018-19 as it is ready to follow the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017.
On Monday, the UGC started issuing applications for renewal of recognition for courses offered by various universities. Accordingly, the KSOU set in motion the procedure to submit its application. It has time till September 23 to do so.
The KSOU’s recognition was cancelled in 2013 as the university was found to have opened centres outside Karnataka in violation of UGC norms, signed MoUs with private institutions and was offering technical courses. The withdrawal of recognition jeopardised the future of hundreds of thousands of students and drove the university to a financial crisis as its only source of income — tuition fees — dried up.
But now, the university has come clean by fulfilling the UGC norms. According to a source, the UGC has asked the KSOU to meet three conditions: adhere to the policy of territorial jurisdiction, don’t offer technical courses, and don’t sign memoranda of understanding with private intuitions. The UGC has also asked it to give details of regional centres, their infrastructure, staff strength and other resources.
On August 3, the KSOU authorities met Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar and held discussions on renewing the university’s recognition. The minister promised to take the necessary steps after verifying the reports. A commission headed by Professor H P Dixit had studied the KSOU documents in December 2016 and submitted a report to the UGC.
An official said the UGC norms permitted the KSOU to apply for 76 courses. “We will apply for courses depending on the staff strength,” he said.
On Monday, the UGC started issuing applications for renewal of recognition for courses offered by various universities. Accordingly, the KSOU set in motion the procedure to submit its application. It has time till September 23 to do so.
The KSOU’s recognition was cancelled in 2013 as the university was found to have opened centres outside Karnataka in violation of UGC norms, signed MoUs with private institutions and was offering technical courses. The withdrawal of recognition jeopardised the future of hundreds of thousands of students and drove the university to a financial crisis as its only source of income — tuition fees — dried up.
But now, the university has come clean by fulfilling the UGC norms. According to a source, the UGC has asked the KSOU to meet three conditions: adhere to the policy of territorial jurisdiction, don’t offer technical courses, and don’t sign memoranda of understanding with private intuitions. The UGC has also asked it to give details of regional centres, their infrastructure, staff strength and other resources.
On August 3, the KSOU authorities met Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar and held discussions on renewing the university’s recognition. The minister promised to take the necessary steps after verifying the reports. A commission headed by Professor H P Dixit had studied the KSOU documents in December 2016 and submitted a report to the UGC.
An official said the UGC norms permitted the KSOU to apply for 76 courses. “We will apply for courses depending on the staff strength,” he said.
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(Published 07 August 2017, 20:30 IST)
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