Karnataka universities’ websites are stuck in a time warp

Any student or faculty of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) trying to access information of notifications or circulars issued by the university by using its website is bound to be disappointed, and extremely confused. This problem is not confined to RGUHS alone. Many other universities’ website are in a similar state of neglect.

It’s virtually impossible to access circulars and notifications on the RGUHS website as its difficult to access particular webpages that have the relevant information. Apart from RGUHS, some other universities, too, have not updated their websites.

For example, Aravind Limbavali is still listed as the state higher education minister (also the pro-chancellor for state universities) in some universities’ websites. Karnataka State Women’s University (KSWU), Bijapur, has not yet updated the pro-chancellor’s page on its website.

“Two months ago, I visited the website, but I was surprised to see Aravind Limbavali listed as pro-chancellor. I thought they would have updated it by now. When there is dedicated staff to do that work, why don’t they update the site everyday,” asked Samyuktha, a UG student. KSWU vice-chancellor Geetha Bali said: “We are designing a new website and that is why the old one is not updated. We will inform students about new website soon.”

Similarly, Gulbarga University has not updated the website since October 21. On its website, too, Aravind Limbavali is the state’s higher education minister.

Newly established Davangere University’s website is no different as it also lists Limbavali as higher education minister. A clerical staffer of Davangere University said the authorities did not rectify the mistake even after being informed about it.

And here’s the icing on the cake: The higher education department, which has the responsibility to guide state universities, has not updated its website since December 26, 2009. The technical education department’s website has the some problem.