Tamil Nadu is the haven for private, self-financed engineering colleges. There are over 275 of them.
The demand for engineering seats was so high at a certain point in time in the 1990s, engineering colleges were sprouting all over the place. Students went to these colleges even though the quality of education was abysmal, because all that mattered to them was their degree certificate. These colleges demanded exorbitant bribe - called it capitation fee, donation and various other names - and used at least part of the proceeds to build up their infrastructure.
While a few of these colleges were run by good people, most who jumped into this field were dirty politicians and rowdies. A lot of them grabbed poramboke land and built colleges there. (Recently one such college built by ex-TN minister AC Shanmugam was bulldozed as it was found to impede water flow in Cooum River.) Over time, thatched huts became grandiose buildings. I have visted a few of these colleges and the buildings at least are impressive. The faculty are, however, mostly pathetic.
These colleges were affiliated to various universities in the state. Entrance into the colleges was controlled by entrance examination run by Department of Technical Education (DOTE). Then the colleges were shifted to the administration of Anna University (AU) - a university dedicated to managing the Engineering colleges in the state. AU also started handling the entrance examination.
All engineering colleges in the coutry had to satisfy AICTE norms on infrastructure, teaching faculty etc. and had to get prior permission for starting a course and enrolling a certain number of students. This was a major problem for most of the private engineering colleges.
One day, the private engineering colleges discovered a concept called Deemed Universities. Exactly what a deemed university is and under what conditions UGC will grant deemed university status to a college is unclear. But these engineering colleges figured that they could escape AICTE norms (or so they thought), if they obtained deemed university status. They started approaching UGC and started getting deemed status. Quoting from Satya's blog
One of the deemed university - Vinayaka Mission based in Salem - went to Chennai High Court again. Looking at the observations of the High Court Bench, this DU must be a big fraud. The bench observed:
With AICTE officials making some public comments about unapproved courses and institutions, students who were enrolled in several DUs started getting jittery. Trouble broke out in SRM DU in Chennai when some students in the college felt that they may not get AICTE approved degrees. Whether there is any truth in this or not, the college administration did not handle the problem properly. This resulted in the students causing a mini riot; police were called in and arrests ensued. The problem spread out to Sathyabama DU and a few other DUs in the state.
Tamil Nadu Government did not get involved in clearing this mess. AICTE and UGC officials did not talk to each other (it appears). Finally the students took it upon themselves and went to court. There were a bunch of writ petitions and PILs in Chennai High Court. UGC, AICTE, students as well as a bunch of DUs are pleading their cases, and the case continues.
I have been tracking this in my Tamil blog, but may not do the same here. I may summarise what is going on once in a while here.
The demand for engineering seats was so high at a certain point in time in the 1990s, engineering colleges were sprouting all over the place. Students went to these colleges even though the quality of education was abysmal, because all that mattered to them was their degree certificate. These colleges demanded exorbitant bribe - called it capitation fee, donation and various other names - and used at least part of the proceeds to build up their infrastructure.
While a few of these colleges were run by good people, most who jumped into this field were dirty politicians and rowdies. A lot of them grabbed poramboke land and built colleges there. (Recently one such college built by ex-TN minister AC Shanmugam was bulldozed as it was found to impede water flow in Cooum River.) Over time, thatched huts became grandiose buildings. I have visted a few of these colleges and the buildings at least are impressive. The faculty are, however, mostly pathetic.
These colleges were affiliated to various universities in the state. Entrance into the colleges was controlled by entrance examination run by Department of Technical Education (DOTE). Then the colleges were shifted to the administration of Anna University (AU) - a university dedicated to managing the Engineering colleges in the state. AU also started handling the entrance examination.
All engineering colleges in the coutry had to satisfy AICTE norms on infrastructure, teaching faculty etc. and had to get prior permission for starting a course and enrolling a certain number of students. This was a major problem for most of the private engineering colleges.
One day, the private engineering colleges discovered a concept called Deemed Universities. Exactly what a deemed university is and under what conditions UGC will grant deemed university status to a college is unclear. But these engineering colleges figured that they could escape AICTE norms (or so they thought), if they obtained deemed university status. They started approaching UGC and started getting deemed status. Quoting from Satya's blog
Between 1956 and 1990, in 35 years, only 29 institutions were granted the deemed university status. In the last 15 years, 63 institutions were declared deemed universities and particularly in the last 5 years, 36 institutions excluding RECs have been notified as deemed universities.When in 2003, AICTE tried contacting these engineering colleges turned deemed universities for some information, the DUs refused giving out information and went to court and obtained a stay. AICTE took several months and then eventually vacated the stay in October 2005, and followed that up with a further notice to these DUs.
One of the deemed university - Vinayaka Mission based in Salem - went to Chennai High Court again. Looking at the observations of the High Court Bench, this DU must be a big fraud. The bench observed:
Citing the "blatant" and "glaring example" of Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation's management of its Arupadaiveedu Institute of Technology, the Bench said the interpretation by the deemed universities that the AICTE should be kept out completely could lead to such a situation.AICTE explained to the Court that while they agree that UGC controls the DUs, it still has the rights to investigate whether the engineering colleges have sufficient infrastructure to enrol the students for specific courses. DUs claim AICTE has no such locus standi and only UGC can verify this. UGC is so short-staffed, and probably doesn't care much about this issue. That is quite convenient for the DUs.
With AICTE officials making some public comments about unapproved courses and institutions, students who were enrolled in several DUs started getting jittery. Trouble broke out in SRM DU in Chennai when some students in the college felt that they may not get AICTE approved degrees. Whether there is any truth in this or not, the college administration did not handle the problem properly. This resulted in the students causing a mini riot; police were called in and arrests ensued. The problem spread out to Sathyabama DU and a few other DUs in the state.
Tamil Nadu Government did not get involved in clearing this mess. AICTE and UGC officials did not talk to each other (it appears). Finally the students took it upon themselves and went to court. There were a bunch of writ petitions and PILs in Chennai High Court. UGC, AICTE, students as well as a bunch of DUs are pleading their cases, and the case continues.
I have been tracking this in my Tamil blog, but may not do the same here. I may summarise what is going on once in a while here.
Dear 'camelpost' alias 'Partha sarathy' (partha_sarathy31@rediffmail.com)
ReplyDeleteYou have been posting repetitively all over the blogosphere, going on and on and on and on about the virtues of BITS Pilani of which you are an alumnus.
You seem to have taken the ranking game (played by the media to sell more magazines) seriously, and you are upset that BITS is not coming on top of the rankings.
To vent your anger, you go around bad-mouthing IITs, NITs and all other colleges that are ranked above BITS (before you start abusing us, we would like to say that we are ourselves BITS alumni).
BITS and BITSians have great respect for IITs and NITs, and in spite of all the rivalry, we greatly admire IITs and IITians. Your view is not shared by most BITSians, and we are shocked by your arrogance and lack of humility.
Please STOP posting your useless comments and go and see a psycho-therapist.
i am a student of vmrf du-avit . i want you to clarify about my institution as well as the court decision
ReplyDeletesir,i hav done my degree from francis..i had backlogs in d final yr...and since i want 2 do mba from a regular coll and since our coll re exams r after 6 months..iam writing my final yr only as a lateral entry from vinayaka mission from city academy(hyd..is my decision corr n whether i will b eligible 4 jobs in hyd..(both state,central and private...plz mail me soon...sir
ReplyDeletewhat camelpost was saying all along about AICTE and deemed universities, courts took time to tell the same
ReplyDeleteGOOD, SITE, actually I am one educational consultant, and a Lion club member, a retired headmaster, and issued a booklet free of cost, asking the readers to go through the website and with a disclaimer that it was just a compilation of websites to check if it is approved or not, that spread fire in SRM and Jappiers, I printed the book let in the year 2003 June.
ReplyDeletefrom your flog it is clear that AICTE do not poke its head into DUs . Can these people go for Postgraduate degree controled by Aicte approved colleges may be detailed here in
LION MJF S.Nagamoney MA, MEd
Retired Headmaster,
cell No 9443152288
"Deemed to be university" is another interesting term for giving freedom to fake universities by UGC and AICTE.It is not clear how long any university will be Deemed to be university.
ReplyDeletewhat about cranfield university of U.K
ReplyDeleteHere is a nice article on why AICTE and UGC Accredited Institutions
ReplyDeleteif a deemed to be university is not AICTE approved then will there be problems with job related matters..is bharath university of TN a good place to go for engg.
ReplyDeleteWhether a BE Automobile Engg degree from Hindustan University (known by the name Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science) will be considered for Central / State govt jobs?
ReplyDeletedeemed universities are 90% fraud .They doesn't take care of educational system and help poor students.I would say that even few deemed universities have good infrastructure but they are not helping student they collect 1000 rs as application fees and 200000 as one year fee.
ReplyDeleteso govt should save the battered educational system
by framing new law that should ensure eduacationa t affordable cost.
Vinayaka mission is one of the most fradulent institutions in the country and need to be throughly probed by CBI and Economic Offences divisions of Government of India. It has the dubious distinction of having study centres in Kashmir and giving degrees at a cost.
ReplyDeleteSir I wanna ask Karntaka state open university is AICTE approved or not. I wanna jon MTech from distance education
ReplyDeleteI want to know that whethet BITS, Pilani is AICTE approved or not....?
ReplyDeleteAnd if it is not approved........den does it has any affect on d degree it gives....
Tell me about The so called fraud ICFAI of Hyderabad starting a Deemed to be university and starting technical education from 2010 onwards. How much truth is there in their name and claim.They call it IFHE (i.e ICFAI foundation for higher education). Have they come out of the mess they were in during last couple of years ? if not how they are taking this step to deceive some more students ? help me
ReplyDeletewhat difficulties can be faced by students of deemed universities like sastra?
ReplyDeleteAll the successful students from Deemed Universities are awarded degree as specified under section 22f of UGC act. And eligible for higher education in other university and jobs in central and state government.
ReplyDeleteAnd as per law AICTE is not mandatory for colleges having status of deemed/statutory/central university or IITs and IIMs.
AICTE is only mandatory for affiliated colleges and nor for universities itself!!
However all universities are open For verification by AICTE. And if found not working well AICTE can submit their report to UGC and MHRD to take action.
In other words UGC recognized universities are by default recognized by AICTE.
Both AICTE and UGC are Apex body of Government of India.MHRD
Follow th process to check your university in AICTE website
1. http://www.aicte-india.org/
2. Click on 'Education'
3 Chick on 'Institutions of National Importance'