Mumbai: The University Grants Commission has directed Mumbai University to not admit students to the popular BSc (Information Technology) programme. UGC struck down permission to it citing insufficient faculty strength to run the course. BSc (IT) offered by Mumbai University’s Institute of Open and Distance Learning (IDOL) is among the easiest places to get into for this pogramme in the city. This unaided course is popular among students aspiring for a career in information technology. Moreover, most college fees run into tens of thousands, making IDOL an affordable choice for many. The course also attracts those who cannot afford an engineering degree but are keen to take up jobs in the IT space.
“We have sent the expert committee report to all open and distance learning universities with the recommendations,” said a UGC source. A copy of the report with this paper stated that UGC’s expert committee pointed out deficiencies in two programmes, BSc (IT) and MSc (computer science). “The callous attitude on part of the university is evident from the fact that officials have been closing down many popular courses, especially unaided ones, offered at a high fee outside the campus in private colleges,” said Subhas Athawale, secretary of Mumbai University College Teachers’ Association.
MU stopped offering the master’s programme a year ago. It, though, has already admitted candidates for the July 2021 intake for the undergraduate course when it conducted the recent admissions cycle for the January 2021 entry. The BSc (IT) course needs a minimum of three faculty members, though there was some discrepancy in the third faculty details submitted by MU to UGC. “We have several students who have signed up for the BSc (IT) programme. We understand that the course needs three faculty but the third professor’s curriculum vitae (CV) sent to UGC was not accepted as he is from computer science,” said a university official. MU plans to approach the commission regarding the same and provide an explanation on the fact that a third faculty is available. “We hope UGC will understand the issue and allow us to offer the course in the upcoming admission cycle,” added the official. With the university awaiting an expert committee from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council for a grade, the rap from the UGC will have a bearing on its score. “Over time, enrolment in IDOL has been falling as its quality has been deteriorating,” said a management council member.
Courtesy – TOI