RTI to UGC exposes seedy private varsities
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 28 2023: Though many private universities have been established in the state with the passing of relevent Bills by the Manipur Legislative Assembly, some of them are running only for profit even to the extent of dishonouring the state.

Some private universities established in the state are running without furnishing requisite information/documents to the University Grant Commission (UGC) for inspec tion.

This would not only spoil career of many students enrolled in such universities but also shame the state.

In its reply to an RTI appli cation, UGC said that private universities figured in commission's list are mandatory to submit requisite information completely for inspection in a printed format.

Among the private universities opened in Manipur, Asian International University is yet to furnish information for inspection to the commission though it was established as per the gazette notification issued on February 23, 2021.Apart from this, Bir Tikendrajit University established on March 26, 2020, Manipur International University established on February 21, 2019 and Sangai International University established on May 5,2015 are all running without furnishing requisite information for inspection to the UGC till date, reply of the RTI mentioned.

Further investigation by The People's Chronicle found that Asian International University has its head office at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and controls from there though mentioned Lamsang in Imphal West district as its address.

The university has no proper campus, teaching staff and insfrastructure.

The university also has no vice chancellor but a pro-VC sitting in the state is running the academic programmes.

Despite lacking infrastructure, many students from different parts of the country are enrolled for academic programmes of the university and certificates issued to them.

The university had even awarded PhD degree but it is yet to upload a single synopsis on its website.

Though address of Bir liken drajit University is mentioned as Thoubal in the UGC notification, the university is running from a rented bulding in Imphal.

Interestingly, the university conducts some classes in New Delhi and even awarded degree by conducting exams there.

No details about its statutory officers are mentioned in university's website as also details about teachers and departments.

The university even conducts PhD programme through external guides but with out faculty guides in violation of UGC norms.

De spite lack of infrastructures and other requisites for the engineering department, many students are enrolled in the university for B-Tec course.

A rural campus of the university was opened at Emmanuel complex, Yain-gangpokpi in July, 2022 .

Manipur International University also opens many centres in different states of the country and conducts many academic programmes including PhD but how properly the uni versity has been running is a question.

Sangai International Uni versity too has no proper teaching campus in the state but claims to conduct many academic programmes.

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