Business not as usual

Students at a Delhi B-school came to know mid-semester that they were being offered distance education degrees instead of the regular ones; registers police complaint, planning to move consumer court

Second year MBA students of the Bangalore School of Business (BSB) in south Delhi have woken up to the harsh reality mid-way through their two-year course.

In the police complaint filed on October 22, the students of the 2008-2010 batch stated that at the time of admission they were informed that Bangalore School of Business (BSB) was affiliated to Periyar University, Salem, recognised by University Grants Commission (UGC) and they would be given regular post-graduate degrees from that university on completion of the two-year course.

However, the students got suspicious when both first semester admit cards the result cards were issued by Periyar Institute of Distance Education (PRIDE).

When the students filed an RTI with the University Grants Commission (UGC), enquiring if Periyar Institute of Distance Education was affiliated to the Distance Education Council (DEC) or the UGC, they were told that the institution was only "provisionally" recognized that too for just one year. "The DEC has accorded provisional recognition to Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu w.e.f. June 2007 for one academic year for offering the programmes (approved by statutory bodies of the university) through distance mode. The university has applied for continuation of recognition beyond 2008-09 also to DEC which is under process," the UGC said in reply to the RTI application.

The building of the institute near Badarpur border pics/Mid Day

"Initially, the college made big promises about their institute, placements, infrastructure and the faculty. But everything was to the contrary. The biggest shock was about the degree. When we enquired, the college asked us to withdraw from the course and refused to refund our money," said Mayank Kumar, a second year MBA student of the college.

The students have also accused the institution of overcharging them several times of the fees it was entitled to demand. "The students were asked to pay according to their economic capacity instead of a fixed fee amount. The fee for the study centre ranges from Rs 3-4 lakh. However, the same degree is provided by other study centres at just for Rs 30,000," said Neha Chopra, another second year student of Bangalore School of Business.

Despite several calls and SMSes, the college authorities refused to comment over the development.

Not the only ones
In June this year, 28 students of Delhi Business School, a private B-school in Badarpur were promised regular post-graduate degrees; they paid lakhs in fees but halfway through the semester realised their institution wasn't permitted to run the course.

Last year, the UGC issued a notification warning students about admission in deemed universities. The UGC said several of these universities were duping students by admitting them into study centers and affiliating colleges, a right they don't have.

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