‘MU, SNDT colleges offering courses not recognised by UGC’

‘MU, SNDT colleges offering courses not recognised by UGC’

 22 Oct 2018 | Mumbai |  musab.qazi@hindustantimes.com Musab Qazi

 

MUMBAI: An activist from Pune has filed a complaint with Union ministry of human resources development (MHRD), alleging that colleges affiliated to University of Mumbai (MU) and Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women’s University are offering courses unrecognised by University Grants Commission (UGC).

Abhishek Haridas, a private tutor, alleged part-time courses such as Masters in Financial Market (MFM), Masters in Marketing Management (MMM), Masters in Information Management (MIM) and Masters in Human Resources Development Management (MHRDM) offered by colleges, including Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), a premier B-school, are not included in the list of courses recognised by UGC.

Chandrahaus Chavan, director, JBIMS, said, “Regular MBA programme is restricted to five specialisations. The parttime courses offer specialisation in other areas such as financial and marketing management. These courses are recognised by UGC. I will look into this issue.”

Haridas urged MHRD to take actions against both the varsities for permitting these courses.

“I have been raising the issue of unrecognised courses with the state universities for the last few years. While Savitribai Phule Pune University, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University have taken cognisance of the issue, there has been no response from the MU,” he said.

Haridas said conferring degrees for unrecognised courses violates the directives of UGC.

In a letter to vice-chancellors of all the universities and deemed universities in 2014, UGC said, “It shall be mandatory for the universities to adhere to the approved nomenclature of degrees.”

The letter also said if a university wished to award a degree other than one specified by the UGC, it will have to seek a prior approval from the regulator.

Haridas alleged colleges charge exuberant fees for these courses owing to lack of government regulation.

“The university is in cahoots with these colleges,” he said.

An MU official said, “We have identified some of the unrecognised courses and are in the process of preparing the list of all such courses. Once the list is ready, we will approach UGC.”

VN Magre, SNDT pro vicechancellor, remained unavailable for comment.

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