Kerala Universities defy University Grants Comission

Thiruvananthapuram: If the recent action of the University Grants Commission (UGC) is any indication,  universities in the state may have to do a rethink on their off- campus centres, which offer liberalised academic programmes making it easier for students to get degrees.

Besides ordering the Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU)  to shut down its seven international and six national off-campus centres, the UGC recently asked universities to close down all their study centres offering distance mode of education as they were being run in violation of its policies.

The MGU’s seven international off-campus centres are located in Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Oman and the national centres,  in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka and  New Delhi.

In fact, in 2013 the then Governor Nikhil Kumar had issued a show cause notice to MGU Vice-Chancellor, A.V. George, who was sacked earlier for sanctioning 77 below par off-campus centres.
The UGC  also issued a warning to Calicut University for operating off- campus centres outside its jurisdiction.  In  a letter to the university, it  pointed out that it could only operate in the area allotted to it.

Former MGU Vice Chancellor,  Rajan Gurukkal, admits there have been complaints about faculty lacking in qualification and  absence of infrastructure like libraries and laboratories at the off-campus centres.

“During my tenure as Vice Chancellor I had to issue an order against conducting examinations in the off- campus centres owing to complaints of malpractice.  The examinations were instead held in colleges that were approved for holding them,”  he recalls, adding, “It was also during my tenure that we decided to issue separate certificates for students in off- campus centres and doing distance education. This was because treating these students on par with regular students was an injustice to the latter. Off- campus students and distance education students are studying a highly liberalized syllabus.”

Kerala University, which did not have any  off campus centres for a long time, changed its policy in 2012 and started Learners Support  Centres (LSCs), a  modified version of the off -campus units of other universities.

Around 62 LSCs were proposed for all districts, except Wayanad and Kasargod, with the support of the KU Institute of Distance Education (IDE).  The concept of LSCs was first mooted by the Syndicate in 2005, but was met with opposition by many who felt  it could encourage malpractice.

When contacted, former Pro -Vice Chancellor of Kerala University,  S Kevin , refused to  comment, saying he was in responsible positions in the university at the time.
But its an open secret that most universities opt  for off- campus centres because they are  big revenue earners. For instance, the MGU which had a deficit of about three crore every month,  was able to generate an additional five crore through these centres.

And Calicut University , which ran  off- campus centres in the name of counselling units, generated '12.4 crore through them.  It all began in  2001 -02 when the MGU started off- campus centres as part of its internal resource mobilisation.

The AKPCTA approached the High Court and Supreme Court against it, but both courts ruled in its favour.

Off-campus centres were later sanctioned in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Now that they are mushrooming everywhere, director of  Kerala University Computer Centre,  V Ajayakumar, says  its  high time  quality control measures  were introduced for these centres in the interest of students.

Meanwhile, The submission of the Mahatma Gandhi University before the High Court that the degree awarded by it under the Distance Education Programme was not recognised and degree holders could not obtain admission to a regular post graduate course conducted by the university had come as a shocker to many.

But university sources said the applicants were aware of the legal situation.

According to sources, most of those who apply for distance programmes know the fact that they cannot pursue higher studies with the degree  obtained through distance education.

Most people rely on distance education for job-related promotions. Others join the courses to gain added qualifications.

According to a top lawyer at the High Court, distance education programmes are fraudulent and the authorities should take serious note of it.

The prospects of thousands pursuing distance education under the MG University are bleak.

The High Court recorded the submissions of the university and dismissed a petition filed by a Kochi native seeking admission for MBA in a college.