BENGALURU: The distance education programme offered by Bangalore University could face the threat of disaffiliation again if the authorities don’t upload the necessary information sought by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in three days. For affiliation of courses for the academic year 2018-19, the UGC portal is open from August 9 till September 23 for universities to upload the necessary information.
With just three days remaining, the BU authorities are struggling to upload the details and also roping in senior professors who have worked as directors of the distance education department. “We have approached one of the former directors of the distance education programme to take charge of the department for a few months as the present director is retiring on September 30.” said Prof H N Ramesh, in-charge VC of BU.
Sources in the varsity said that former registrar Prof B C Mylarappa will take charge as director of the distance education programme. When contacted, Mylarappa said, “The university authorities have approached me and I will soon take charge. I will make all efforts to retain the recognition and travel to Delhi to meet UGC officials and make a presentation.” According to university authorities, they have to upload information about study centres, number of students admitted, jurisdictional regulations, conducting exams and supplying study material on time. The university has got renewal of affiliation for the years 2016-17 and 2017-18 and admissions for the 2017-18 academic year are on.
Admissions at the varsity drop
Admissions to the Bangalore University distance education programme have been come down drastically. As per university records, the student strength between 2004 and 2008 was 45,000 but has dropped to 2,300 now. The revenue earned during those years was around `15 crore per annum. The varsity received a communication from UGC January 26 this year regarding renewal of affiliation for the academic years 2016-17 and 2017-18. When Smriti Irani was Union HRD minister, she had announced in the Rajya Sabha about the disaffiliation of distance education programmes of Bangalore University, Karnatak University among others.