In a move that is likely to bring cheer to the student fraternity, the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has finally been granted recognition by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
In an official note issued by UGC’s Distance Education Bureau, KSOU has been granted permission to run courses from the 2018-2019 to 2022-2023 academic year. The move comes after there were several deliberations that KSOU officials had with the UGC authorities earlier this week.
KSOU Vice-Chancellor D. Shivalingaiah termed this as a rebirth for the university. He said the university had applied for permission to run 32 programmes, but received sanction for 17.
He said that there was a provision for the university to appeal seeking permission for the remaining programmes. There was a provision to conduct admissions till October 1 and the university, for the first time, would conduct online admissions to get more students, he said.
The commission had de-recognised courses run by the KSOU as it had violated UGC’s territorial jurisdiction. It had also earned the wrath of the commission for signing memoranda of understanding with institutions outside Karnataka. Subsequently, KSOU cancelled all these MOUs and also amended their Act to ensure the UGC’s territorial jurisdiction was complied with.
KSOU authorities had submitted a 900-page report in order to obtain admissions.
However, what is still a matter of concern is the fate of old students who had enrolled in courses with KSOU. The Higher Education Department officials said they would approach the UGC regarding this matter shortly.
