UGC Identifies 21 Fake Universities!

University Grants Commission (UGC) has brought to the fore 21 fake universities, running against the rules of UGC Act, 1956. Out of these 6 are in Delhi, 8 in Uttar Pradesh and one each in Kerala, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Likewise AICTE has also identified 350 unapproved institutions offering technical and management courses in violation of the AICTE Regulations. Of these 75 each are in Delhi and Maharashtra, 52 in Andhra Pradesh, 34 in West Bengal, 30 in Uttar Pradesh. Also, 27 such institutions are running in Karnataka, 17 in Haryana, 14 in Tamil Nadu, 9 in Chandigarh, 4 in Gujarat, 3 in Punjab, 2 each in Bihar, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Goa and one each in Uttarkhand and Kerala.

In other revelation, it was brought to the notice of UGC by the United States Educational Foundation in India (from State of Hawaii in USA)s, that a so-called American University of Hawaii (AUH) operating in India is unaccredited. However, it claims of having valid affiliations, study centers and regional offices in around eighteen countries. But the truth is that there are no students or graduates in the US and issue degrees to non-US citizens, including Indians. To make the detailed information available to common people UGC has updated the list on its website. Moreover, to prohibit unfair practices in higher educational institutions a legislative proposal has been already introduced in the parliament.

In the background of the above fact, both the students and parents will now have another tough nut to crack-identifying the right institute! Before getting tempted by spic and span classrooms & glossy hoardings and plunging into admission processes candidates must check an institute's credentials. He or she must remain fully assured of the below mentioned facts and only then take that crucial decision of life.

• As per rule, UGC does not permit state private universities to affiliate with other institutions. In this case, if any college claims to be an affiliate of a private university one should get alert

• Private universities cannot have off campus centers beyond the territory of their state. If this is the case one should refrain from it

• Distance learning programmes should be approved by UGC and AICTE as well as the Distance Education Council (DEC)

• It must also be ensured that any new programme launched by an approved university or institution meets the academic and infrastructural standards, rules and regulations, as laid down by the related statutory councils

If students and parents keep a note of the above steps and make a bit of extra efforts, no fraud college can trap them. Apart from this, students must thoroughly read an institute's websites, take feedbacks from its pass-out students and if possible personally visit the institute's campus. In present day education scenario, hundreds of fraudsters lure students to a glossy world of dreams and make easy money with fake institutes. So its high time for students to pull up their socks and shield themselves from this emerging cottage industry of higher education.

Some of the fake universities identified by UGC are as follows:

Delhi

• Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi
• Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi
• United Nations University, Delhi
• Vocational University, Delhi
• ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, New Delhi - 110 008
• Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi

Uttar Pradesh

• Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, (Women's University) Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
• Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
• National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
• Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
• Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh
• Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area,Khoda,Makanpur,Noida Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh
• Gurukul Vishwavidyala, Vridanvan, Uttar Pradesh

Bihar

• Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar

Karnataka

• Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka

Kerala

• St. John's University, Kishanattam, Kerala

Madhya Pradesh

• Kesarwani Vidyapith, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Maharashtra

• Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu

• D.D.B. Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal

• Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkata.

Source: Prachi Srivastava (Shiksha Team)

Date:  17th March, 2011