The University Grants Commission has cautioned students that no university, whether Central, State, private or deemed can offer its programmes through franchisee arrangement with private coaching institutions even for distance mode courses. The commission in a recent notification advised students not to take admission in unapproved study centres, off campus centres, franchisee institutions, colleges / institutions claiming to be affiliated with private universities or deemed universities.
“The commission has come across advertisements offering opportunities for the award of university degrees through various franchise programmes conducted by certain private institutions. These private establishments calling themselves study centres or learning centres of different universities enrol students for various degree programmes and also claim to be responsible for teaching and conduct of examination,” UGC Secretary Akhilesh Gupta said in a public notice dated June 24.
“The faculty and the infrastructure belong to these private agencies. The concerned university except to provide syllabus and teaching materials has no mechanism to monitor and maintain the academic standards of teaching being imparted at these centres. This blatant compromise in standards of education has led to widespread criticism,” he said.
SP Thyagarajan, former vice-chancellor of the University of Madras welcomed the UGC’s move.