Following increased demand for B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) course, Mangalore University has begun sanctioning additional seats to many colleges for 2013-14.
The Syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university, in its meeting on May 17 authorised Vice-Chancellor T. C. Shivashankara Murthy to sanction 25 per cent seats than the allotted seats. Accordingly the colleges seeking additional seats are being sanctioned a maximum of 25 per cent seats, Prof. Murthy told The Hindu .
If the additional 25 per cent seats were filled, and the colleges wanted to open an extra batch then as per the decision of the Syndicate the university would send a three-member committee to inspect the infrastructure available. The reports of the committee would be placed before the Syndicate and if the latter agreed such colleges would be allowed to open additional batches, the Vice-Chancellor said.
In both the cases the university would act only if there was written request from the colleges, he said.
P. S. Yadapadithaya, Registrar (administration) said that many colleges were seeking 10 per cent to 25 per cent additional seats. Some colleges have sought sanctioning extra batches. The additional seats sanctioned were applicable only for the academic year 2013-14. The colleges cannot merge the original intake and additional intake sanctioned and admit students for the academic year 2014-15. The original intake allowed for the current academic year was applicable while admitting students for the next academic year unless changes made based on the next year’s trend.
He said government-aided private colleges and unaided private colleges would have to pay Rs. 3,000 per candidate to the university for additional seats sanctioned. This was not applicable to government colleges. The fee is being collected to check uncontrolled admissions, he said.
Subrahmanya Bhat, Principal, Government First Grade College, Uppinangady, said the college received 204 applications against 60 seats originally sanctioned by the university.
In addition to asking for sanctioning 25 per cent additional seats the college had sought to grant an extra batch to accommodate new applicants.
Why the change?
Udaya Kumar Irvathur, Associate Professor of Commerce, University College, Mangalore said that demand for MBA graduates in corporate sector has come down as they were demanding high salary. Instead the corporate sector was hiring B.Com. graduates as they could be paid less and more employable because of their skills. In addition, Mr. Irvathur said, B.Com. students studied subjects like finance and accounting in depth than BBM students.
The syllabi of BBM were more diluted when compared to the syllabi of B.Com. This could be the reasons why employers prefer B.Com. graduates thus pushing demand for the course, he said.
Ummappa Poojary. P., ex-president, AMUCT:
Mad race for any course is not a healthy trend. Learn lessons from the weakening demand for MBA graduates in the market now. It can happen to B.Com. graduates too. Balance should be maintained in sanctioning intake for courses. Managements of colleges will transfer the burden of extra fee being collected from the university directly to students.
Radhakrishna, principal of Government College, Car Street
Demand for a B.Com course is higher in government colleges as they charge a low fee, which is Rs. 4,000 per candidate. Some Private and aided private colleges charged up to Rs. 20,000 per student. Increasing demand requires more infrastructure facilities.
Subbappa Kaikamba, joint secretary, university commerce teachers’ association
B.Com. graduates are preferred everywhere, from sales jobs to corporate jobs. There will be demand for them. Companies are now absorbing them in larger numbers. A B.Com. graduate can fit into any profile.
