SNAP 2011, the common entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International University (SIU) for the 17 institutes was conducted on Sunday, December 18, 2011. But the national exam faced controversy as soon as it was over. Test takers complained of having encountered erroneous questions. It was also alleged that the questions were same as that of the questions given in the websites of the MBA test prep institutes such as Bull's Eye and Ascent Education.

SIU received letters from some of the test takers and coaching institutes including T.I.M.E. As a response to this, SIU has launched an external committee to probe the matter. In this interview of Dr. Kathpalia, he has shared the current status of the controversy and the steps taken by SIU to mend the matter.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: What is your take on the ongoing controversy on SNAP 2011?

A: We respect the sentiments of the students. We have not found anything wrong in the SNAP examination, still the University administration is carefully looking into all the complaints received. We appreciate sensitivities and concerns of students aspiring to seek admission to Symbiosis International University. We stand by the quality and credibility of the SNAP 2011 examination. As a University we maintain high quality standards on the academic rigor and examination process. This time the paper has been tough and also the paper has been well designed. This has been acknowledged by experts and some have stated that the SNAP exam is comparable or higher in terms of the CAT exam. This has taken students by surprise.

Q: What do you have to say about the alleged plagiarism of some of the questions from the coaching websites?

A: We have an internal committee of subject experts who have been setting the SNAP test paper for the last several years. These SME ‘s (Subject Matter Experts) are the assets of Symbiosis namely the faculty of the institutions of SIU. The Internet is the single largest source of information today. If a couple of SNAP questions bear similarities to questions from the question banks of some website, it does not imply that we have copied the questions from the website or have any collaboration with the coaching institute in question.

Any such questions which are similar is a coincidence. We have not copied any questions from any coaching institute or blog and will never do that. Also we do not have any alliances with any coaching institute or any blog coaching students for SNAP.

Q: What are the findings of the committee founded by SIU?

A: We are right now working overtime to get the report of the external committee ASAP. As of now the external committee is working on this. We empathize with the concerns of the students and have given all inputs and data to the external committee. The external committee comprises of eminent academicians, educationists who would give us their unbiased advice and these are people from outside Symbiosis. The entire University faculties and administration is working with all dedication to give all inputs and data to the external committee. So to say all of us are burning the midnight oil.

Q: What would be the next step for SIU?

A: We would abide by the decisions/recommendations of the committee.

Q: What implications will it have on the SNAP 2011 takers?

A: The interest of all SNAP aspirants would be taken care and we would abide by the decision/recommendation of the external committee. We wish to assure to all students that the University will take all the necessary care to protect interests of the students.