UGC lists genuine centres, bogus ones out in open

Think twice before you enroll for any course offered by a crowd of private universities across the country, which give attractive distance education patterns.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently issued a public notice naming 94 recognised private university campuses. Some of the private universities have started off-campus centres in violation of the UGC (Establishments of and maintenance of standards of private universities) regulation 2003.   

Though the list does not directly include any private university from Maharashtra, there are many who are running their shops in different parts of the country on a franchise basis, which, according to the notice, is also a violation of the regulation.

Hence, the UGC has declared the notice of 94 recognised private university campuses to alert students before taking admission in off-campus centres. 

The notice can be viewed on the UGC website. It lists 94 universities from 18 states across the country with there recognised campuses. The notice states: “The public at large and the student community in particular are therefore informed that as per the information available with the UGC as on date, there are 94 private universities established by the Acts of the Legislatures of different States.”

However, it also mentions: “It has come to the notice of the University Grants Commission that some of the State Private Universities have affiliated colleges and started off-campus centre(s) in violation of the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulation, 2003 and against the judgment of Supreme Court in case of Prof Yash Pal & Others vs. State of Chhattisgarh & Others. Some of these Universities are running these Centres on franchising basis also which is not allowed.”

According to a private university official who did not wished to be named, the 94 private universities mentioned in the list are the recognised campuses established by the Acts of the legislatures of different states. However, there has been a huge trend among some of these universities who have opened  off-campus centres elsewhere with the claims of giving regular degrees.

Such campuses according to the UGC are questionable and students need to check before taking admission to such off-campus centres as such campuses are violation of the UGC regulation.