For the sake of jobs

Karnatak University lifts bar on PG students pursuing value-added courses offered by open universities

learning never ends: Additional qualifications always help students

Time and again the need for reforms in higher education, which is caught in the grip of age-old regulations, is stressed in various forums. But little progress has been made due to various reasons. While private universities have made some progress in this regard, State-run universities have yet to make any breakthrough.

However, things appear to be changing and a recent decision by the Karnatak University-Dharwad (KUD) to remove the restrictions on postgraduate students simultaneously pursuing value-added courses offered by open universities is a good sign and it is going to help the students in many ways.

This decision has been appreciated in the academic and students' circles as it is going to help students while competing in the job market.

KUD Vice-Chancellor H.B. Walikar told

The Hindu that the university took this decision responding to the requirements of the hour and keeping in mind the larger interest of the students. The university guidelines did not permit students pursuing value-added courses offered by other universities, even though the students were allowed to join similar courses offered by the university. However, students were allowed to join the courses offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU).

Better opportunities

Prof. Walikar pointed out that the trend of students opting for diploma courses which were concurrent to the main course has been increasing these days. These courses help the students, mainly from the arts stream, to get jobs in specific fields. For instance, a postgraduate in economics would have better chances of getting selected if he had additional qualification in marketing management. Similarly, an MBA graduate with diploma in financial management and master degree holder in mathematics and physics with addition qualification of PGDCA would have better opportunities than the regular degree holders.

Prof. Walikar said universities have not succeeded in introducing value-added courses for various reasons. Hence, it would be better to allow the students to pursue such courses from the open universities simultaneously. Various diploma courses offered by IGNOU and KSOU are highly popular among the students. Their syllabus and content are very good and at par with the set standards.

KUD has also decided to provide space for IGNOU and KSOU to open their centres on its campus to encourage more students go for value-added courses. However, the enrolling students have to make arrangements on their own in case the examination dates of both the varsities clash. The University would not take any responsibility, Prof. Walikar said.

Appreciating the idea, K.M. Kaveriappa, managing director, Karnataka Higher Education Council, said it was a good step and an opportunity for the students who were concerned about acquiring knowledge. A graduate having additional courses would be considered for the jobs in specific fields. Many arts courses have no subject-oriented jobs and pursuing such courses enhances the students' prospects of getting jobs.