Kerala varsity Gulf centres throw norms to wind

Kozhikode: Even after several warnings from the University Grants Commission (UGC) over the conduct of study centres and examination centres outside the territory of the university on cancellation of recognition, the examinations are running smooth, all throughout the years since 2015 till date, at the satellite and overseas centres of the Calicut University.

Though the vice-chancellor claims that it is conducted only for courses sanctioned earlier, top officials, as well as the Syndicate members, are still doubtful of the courses.

There were unconfirmed reports that the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) under the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) has exempted the university from offering the courses at the off-campus centres outside its territorial jurisdiction.

However, vice-chancellor K. Mohammed Basheer told this newspaper that the examinations in the Gulf countries to be conducted from June 1 to June 20, are for courses that were recognised before the cancellation. The VC was not sure when will the examinations be over as the same students would be eligible for the supplementary or improvement exams in future. “The centre would be decided after talks with the Indian embassy in the countries concerned,” he added.

The running of the centres came to light after the VC entrusted two of the officials - HoD Arabic Moideenkutty A.B. to Kuwait and K.K. Geethakumari, associate professor, Sanskrit, to the UAE - for the conduct of examinations in June.

Already, the finance branch of the university granted Rs 71,359 as travel expenses for four officers for conducting the exams in June 2016.

According to the UGC notification, “a university established or incorporated by or under a state Act shall operate only within the territorial jurisdiction allotted to it under its Act and in no case beyond the territory of the state or its location.”