KSOU plans own building in Mangaluru

If everything goes well as per the plan, then Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) regional centre will have its own building at Nanthoor in Mangaluru.

Speaking to media persons, KSOU Vice-Chancellor D Shivalingaiah said that the KSOU owns 100 cents land at Nanthoor. The work on the regional office building with guest house facilities for teaching faculty will be taken up during the year. The KSOU also owns land at Udupi for its regional office, he added.

Admission begins

Prof Shivalingaiah said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sanctioned recognition to the KSOU. The UGC has sanctioned recognition to 17 courses for a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-2023. As per the UGC guidelines, the last date for admission is October 1.

The UGC had earlier withdrawn the recognition of the university in June 2015, with effect from the academic year 2013-14. There is no restriction regarding the number of students to be admitted to various 17 courses, he clarified.

The courses will be offered at KSOU Regional Centres at the district level and at 51 Study Centres under the jurisdiction of the university within Karnataka.

Fee concession

He said the students, enrolled in KSOU during 2013-14 and 2014-15 who have discontinued the studies/failed in such courses, may seek fresh admission to first year UG/PG courses in 2018-19.

Such interested students of in-house courses will get 50% concession in tuition fee. The tuition fee which was prevailing during the year 2014 will be continued for the academic year 2018-19. Self-learning materials are kept ready for the use of the students as per the new regulations of the UGC. The self-learning materials
are available in Kannada for BA and MA programmes as well.

The women candidates having BPL cards who seek admission to various courses will bet 25% concession in tuition fee. The students should submit a photocopy of self-attested
BPL card at the time of admission.

The KSOU is committed to protecting the interest of the 95,000 students who have passed in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Prof Shivalingaiah said 4,400 study centres across the country had been shut down after the KSOU terminated its ties with all the collaborative institutions in other states.

Skill courses

He said that in addition to 17 courses, the KSOU has introduced skill development training courses. The duration of the skill development training for postgraduate students is two years and three years for undergraduate students. Along with BA, BCom, BLib ISc, MA, MSc and MLib ISc, skill development training is provided.

The VC said that the university will take measures to introduce Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) syllabus from the next academic year. Measures have also been taken to offer PhD programmes as per the UGC regulations 2016.

The students can contact the Regional Centre in Mangaluru and Udupi for details. The prospectus, application form, and challan form for payment of the fee are uploaded in the university’s official website —www.ksoumysore.karnataka.gov.in.

The students can download the application forms and can submit the applications after remitting the fees in any of the branches of State Bank of India along with necessary documents and fee paid challan to the Regional Centre.