Edn Dept cautions against fake varsities
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2013: Taking serious note of the advertisements in mass media about some private universities and study centres offering different courses, Higher Education Department has cautioned all college Lecturers/Teachers/Assistant/Associate Professors of all colleges of Manipur to exercise due caution to ensure that they do not undertake their higher study/pursuit of MPhl/PhD degrees through illegal study centres or private/State universities operating outside the limits of the territorial boundaries of the State that authorise them to be set up.

Drawing attention of all concerned, the Department issued an order on June 21 this year stating that "the Acts authorising setting up of private/State universities passed by State Legislative Assemblies are valid within the territorial boundaries of the concerned State only and study centres opened outside the State where such private/State universities are set up are illegal and not acceptable" .

The department also quoted a UGC notice issued on June 27 which read, "the commission has come across many advertisements published in national dailies offering opportunities for the award of university degrees through various franchise programmes conducted by certain private institutions.

"These private establishments claiming themselves as 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 examinations.

"The faculty and infrastructure belong to these private agencies.

The concerned universities except providing syllabus and teaching materials, has no mechanism to monitor and maintain the academic standards of teaching being imparted at these centres.

The blatant compromise with the standards of education has led to widespread criticism.

The commission has taken a serious view of these misleading advertisements appearing in various newspapers", said the UGC notice.

It also stated that a university established or incorporated by or under a State Act shall operate only within the territorial jurisdiction allotted under its Act and in no case beyond the territory of the State of its location.

Private universities and deemed universities cannot affiliate any college or institution for conducting courses leading to award of its diplomas, degrees or other qualifications.

No university whether Central, State private or deemed can offer its programmes through franchising arrangement with private coaching institutions even for the purpose of conducting courses through distance mode.

In line with the UGC's notice, Higher Education Department has advised students not to take admission in the unapproved study centres, off-campus centres, franchise institutions, colleges/institutions claiming to be affiliated with private universities or deemed universities.

The Department of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Manipur has also decided not to accept any degree, diploma etc including MPhil/PhD degrees offered through such illegal study centres of some private/State universities/higher educational institutions for the purpose of any Government job/study courses or as genuine diplomas/degrees.

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