Nearly 1 lakh students are in the midst of KSOU courses

There is still hope for students from other States who had enrolled for various programmes (besides technical and professional programmes) run by the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) through collaborative institutions.
After a rap from the erstwhile Distance Education Council (DEC) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), KSOU had discontinued the technical programmes last year and had assured the UGC that it would never offer such programmes in future.
But, there were a large number of students who were pursuing some conventional courses.
Vice-Chancellor M.G. Krishnan on Friday said that the students who are in the midst of such programmes will be allowed to complete their courses.
“The university will award degrees to such students upon completing their courses. Some students may be in second year or final year and they shall be permitted to finish their courses,” he said.

Top brass meeting

The vice-chancellor said the issue of students in the midst of courses was raised at the meeting with the UGC’s top brass in New Delhi on July 16.

“They too were of the opinion for allowing them to finish their courses,” he said.
But, questionable courses had been discontinued and there won’t be fresh admissions for them and also conventional programmes, he clarified.

Asked whether the university had taken this stand foreseeing legal problems, he said,
“Any step is taken to protect the students’ interests. Students should not struggle for somebody’s mistake.”

To a question, the vice-chancellor said there are about 1 lakh students from various States who are in the midst of KSOU courses.

The KSOU had entered into a memorandum of understanding with over 205 institutions across the country.

The vice-chancellor said students from other States can take up admissions at the KSOU (on getting back the recognition) by attending contact classes in 23 regional centres located within Karnataka.

“The students cannot enroll through collaborative institutions or the study centres which had been opened in the past,” he said.

To another question on its move if the collaborative institutions drag KSOU to the court following termination of understanding, he said, “I don’t know the kind the legal issues that need to be addressed. But, the agreements entered with several institutions will get over soon.”