YCMOU students worried after UGC de-recognizes Architecture courses

Students of Yashwantrao Chavan Open University (YCMOU) are in dilemma after University Grant Commission (UGC) de-recognized Bachelor of Architecture (B Arch) and Master of Architecture (M Arch) along with some other courses in July this year. Around 1,200 B Arch and around 400 M Arch students who enrolled from Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra are fighting to save their educational degree.

Some colleges that are centres of YCMOU have written to Mumbai University (MU) requesting them to transfer these students to MU. Concerned parents have also written letters to Council of Architecture (COA), UGC, YCMOU, MU and the Governor. Both the courses have been recognized by COA, the highest statutory body in the field of architecture.

Rahul Khan (name changed), a B Arch student said, "We just want a clarification from the concerned bodies whether our degree will be valid and given the same value that is given to MU degrees. We have been given admission through Maharashtra Associations of School of Architecture (MASA). Our course is regular and not a distance one."

Another student, Roshan Sheikh (name changed) said, "Our study centre in Mumbai has already written a letter to MU to transfer us to its affiliated colleges, but the MU has refused stating it is not allowed according to Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994."

There are 10 study centres across Maharashtra, including five in Mumbai itself.

Dr. Dinesh Bhonde, Registrar of YCMOU, said, "We believe that the students who were admitted in these courses will not be affected and their degrees will be valid. We will be writing a letter to UGC to get more clarity on it."