The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has dropped the idea of going for online admissions for 17 in-house courses for the academic year 2018-19 and will take the conventional route for enrolments.
The decision was taken following the UGC fixing October 1 as the last date for admissions. The prospectus and applications have not yet been printed as the poll code of conduct is in force for the elections to the civic bodies.
In his first media briefing after the KSOU secured UGC recognition for five years, Vice-Chancellor D. Shivalinagaiah told reporters in Mysuru on Friday that admissions will commence from next week, and a notification will be announced on the KSOU’s website in a day or two.
The VC also said there will be no restrictions on the number of admissions; all eligible candidates will get admission irrespective of age and marks obtained in the qualifying examination.
Unlike earlier, it is now mandatory for those seeking admissions to PG courses to have a degree. For those seeking admissions to undergraduate programmes, PU or equivalent examination is a must, he clarified.
He said the fees that was prevailing in 2014 will continue. Self learning materials — in English and Kannada — havebeen kept ready for the students. Additional notes will also be supplied on UGC’s directives and students must have Aadhaar and bank account to avail admissions.
4,400 study centres shut
Prof. Shivalingaiah said 4,400 study centres across the country had been shut down after the KSOU terminated its ties with all the collaborative institutions in other states.
In reply to a question, he said the university suffered revenue loss of about ₹30 crore each year since de-recognition.
Referring to the UGC denying recognition to 15 courses, the V-C said permission for B.Ed., MBA and LLM was turned down as these courses required consent from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the AICTE and Bar Council of India (BCI) respectively.
Recognition was not granted to the M.Sc. courses for dearth of teaching faculty. The process of recruiting teaching faculty. “We will make a fresh appeal to the UGC for getting the nod for 15 courses after we fulfil the requirements,” Prof. Shivalingaiah said.
