As admission process looms, students across India are being told to beware of educational institutions not established under the UGC Act
UPDATE – Sun 04/09/23 11:29 AM
New Delhi: Ahead of university admissions, the Universities Grants Commission (UGC) has warned students against running unaccredited or “bogus” institutions in the country.
In the past two years, the UGC has identified 27 such “fake” higher education institutions in the country.
As the admissions process looms, students across the country are being asked to beware of educational institutions not established under the UGC Act but offering degrees in violation of the rules. According to the Union Ministry of Education, degrees offered by such institutions will not be available for further study or work.
Recently, the UGC identified two unaccredited institutions and may soon publish a new list of such institutions.
According to a recent notice issued by the UGC, the courses offered by the Open International University of Alternative Medicine and the National Council for Alternative Medicine are in breach of the UGC Act 1956.
The UGC is calling on students across the country not to be admitted to these institutions because their degrees are not valid for further education or work.
The UGC had previously issued a similar notice against the All India Institute of Public and Physical Health Sciences, a higher education institution in Delhi. In its circular, the UGC advised students not to enroll in “self-styled” institutions.
From time to time, the UGC publishes lists of such non-accredited colleges, universities and colleges to alert students to institutions that fraudulently offer degree programs. It also keeps a close eye on these self-styled institutions for the benefit of its students.
Last year, the UGC identified some 24 such higher education institutions and declared the degrees they conferred “invalid and false”.
According to the UGC, students should check it thoroughly before entering a higher education institution. Students and parents should ensure that the educational institution concerned is accredited by the UGC. These educational institutions can be verified on the UGC website.
Notably, UGC and the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), which promotes technical education in India, have also issued warnings against educational institutions in Pakistan.
In this joint advisory issued for Indian students, it is said that Indian students should not be admitted to any university or educational institution in Pakistan. According to the UGC, students educated in Pakistan will not be eligible to find jobs and pursue higher education in India.
UGC and AICTE said Indian students should not go to Pakistan for higher education. Indian students going to Pakistan for technical education, higher education or any other course will not be able to enter India for further study or work.
