UGC shocker: Bangalore University distance education courses cancelled?

BENGALURU: Has the University Grants Commission (UGC) cancelled the recognition of Distance Education courses during 2015-16 offered by Bangalore University? According to the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, who replied to three members of parliament in the Lok Sabha on August 5, the answer is ‘Yes’.

The three members were Suresh Doddaalahalli Kempegowda, Chandrappa B.N.. and Hansdak Vijay Kumar. According to the answer provided by the minister to question number 2735 (un-starred), the UGC has informed that it has cancelled the recognition of 31 Universities and Colleges offering Distance Education courses during 2015-16.

The State/UT and University list is at Annexure-I. As per Annexure-I, which is available with Deccan Chronicle, five universities lost their recognition. Among them, Bangalore University (BU) lost its recognition for non- compliance with visiting/expert committee's recommendations.

Gulbarga University and Karnataka University, Dharwad, have lost their recognition for non response to inspection of the universities to accord programme-wise recognition. The Karnataka State Open University, Mysore (KSOU) has lost its recognition for violation of norms and UGC guidelines on territorial jurisdiction.

Speaking to this newspaper, an officer from the state higher education department said that the department is not aware of any such decision by the UGC. “We have not been told about any expert committee or of BU's failure to follow the directions. If we get any intimation from the UGC or MHRD, definitely we will look into the issue,” he said.

But it is the students who have pursued courses in previous years who are upset by the news. According to Ravi Tej, who got his Master’s degree from the distance education cell of the university, he was “sad” that three government-run universities have lost their recognition. “The state government should initiate action against the erring officials and ensure that awarded degrees will be accepted by all,” he suggested.