The government has approved a proposal by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) to set up a State-level Academic Committee (SLAC) to resolve unsettled issues related to the nomenclature and equivalency of academic programmes of other universities.
A 15-member committee will now take up all such issues for disposal.
The government order issued on November 1 stated that aggrieved candidates could appeal to the council and it would be placed in front of the academic committee for a final decision.
Gurukkal vice chairman
P.M. Rajan Gurukkal, vice chairman of the council, is the chairperson of SLAC while Rajan Varughese, member secretary, will be its convener.
The norms approved by the government stated that all universities, higher educational institutions, agencies, and employers should recognise the degrees awarded by national institutes such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), and other national-level standalone institutions funded by the government.
All universities/higher educational institutions/employers in the State should recognise the BS/MS degrees of IISERs, IISc, State/Central universities and other higher educational institutions funded by the government.
No equivalency /recognition shall be insisted upon for degrees obtained from IITs, IISc, NITs, IISERs, or other institutions recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Reciprocal recognition
There shall be reciprocal recognition of degrees awarded by Indian universities/other higher educational institutions as listed out and updated by the commission.
Universities/higher educational institutions/employment agencies/employers have to follow the nomenclature of degrees prepared and listed by the UGC.
It should follow the conditions, policies, and procedure stipulated by the Association of Indian Universities for according recognition/equivalence of qualification/degrees awarded by foreign universities.
They should approve/recognise degrees acquired through open and distance learning, complying with the latest UGC Open and Distance Learning Regulations.
Equivalency/ recognition of degrees acquired through open and distance learning before the promulgation of the UGC Open and Distance Learning Regulations, 2017, should be decided by the university concerned.
Universities/higher educational institutions/ employment agencies/employers should approve/ recognise degrees awarded by private universities with the recognition/approval of the UGC, and which comply with the relevant UGC norms/regulations as amended from time to time, according to the government order on equivalency/recognition and nomenclature of academic programmes and nomenclature of degrees of other universities.
