Bhubaneswar: The state government Monday urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to accord recognition to Berhampur University (BU) to offer certificates to students admitted in 2016-17 under the distance mode.
The state government-run university is offering various courses under the distance mode since 1988 following the approval of UGC. However, it has not been able get the nod from the Commission for the year 2016-17 as it has not implemented some of the instructions of the commission, official sources said.
In anticipation of approval of Distance Education Bureau (DEB) of UGC, the university has enrolled students under its Distance Education Centre (DEC) in different subjects in the academic session 2016-17.
But, DEB has asked the university to comply with certain points about appointment of exclusive faculty members for the DEC and preparation and distribution of study materials to the students for consideration of granting recognition, a source said.
Additional chief secretary higher education GVV Sarma Monday has written a letter to the UGC chairman in this regard.
“The university has intimated the UGC that they have already taken steps for appointment of exclusive faculty members for the DEC. But the supply of study materials is not possible as the matter is sub-judice before the High Court of Orissa,” Sarma said in his letter.
The university has also assured the UGC-DEB for providing alternative study material to the admitted students. However, the UGC-DEB has not yet accorded recognition for the session 2016-17, he pointed out.
Stating that the university has to conduct the examinations for the students admitted during 2016-17 under distance mode, Sarma said, “In absence of recognition of UGC, it is not possible to offer degrees to these students.”
The UGC chairman was requested to grant recognition in favour of the BU for the academic session 2016-17 taking in the larger interests of the students.
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