KUTA demands probe; shot letter to Governor office
Srinagar (KPS): Research scholars of Computer Science department have asked Kashmir University authorities to find out how an in-charge director of Information Technology department has been registered as a research scholar of computer science by the competent committee within the varsity.
Signed by eight people, a two-page letter addressed to Dean Research, Zafar Reshi, the scholars say: In-charge IT director, Mahroof Qadri, holds masters degree in an irrelevant subject that too from an institution which is not recognised by University Grants Commission (UGC). “We the scholars of Department of Computer Science would like to bring to your kind notice that your office has advertently or inadvertently caught itself in the process of conducting gross violations of UGC regulations,” reads the letter, a copy which is available with Kashmir Press Service.
On May 21, 2009 Indira Ghandi National Open University (IGNOU) announced Executive MBA in Information Technology (EMBAIT) in collaboration with U21 Global, a Singapore based online education provider. “The programme is for a duration of 18 months; commencing on 28 December 2009,” the then IGNOU advertisement said adding, “U21 Global will conduct the Program online for the first 12 months; leading to an Executive MBA in Information Technology Certificate in Global Information Technology Management. This will be followed by a 6 months Program leading to an Executive MBA in Information Technology Management.”
The eligibility for EMBAIT was set bachelors in Information Technology along with two years of experience in professional/managerial/supervisory experience. The advertisement also claimed that aspirants who have qualified 12th class examination can also apply for the program but should have at least six years of experience in Information Technology.
Qadri who then had bachelors of engineering (B.E) in Computer Science went for EMBAIT after getting an approval from the competent authority through the then director of IT. However, research scholars argue Qadri is also not even eligible for an award of masters program because he did not complete master’s degree in a minimum time period of two years as mentioned in UGC’s Minimum Standard of Instruction for the Grant of Master’s Degree.
“No student shall be eligible for the award of the Master’s degree unless he/she has successfully completed a minimum of two years after the first degree or five years after plus two or earned the minimum number of credits prescribed by the University for the Programme,” the scholars said while quoting UGC’s Minimum Standard of Instruction for the Grant of Master’s Degree through Formal Education regulations of 2003, adding, “It is quite clear that EMBAIT degree is of minimum duration of 18 months which is in no way in conformity with the UGC notification on specification of degrees.”
The letter also said EMBIT is online in nature and the UGC Joint Secretary, Dr Renu Batra, in October 2015 had written to the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU asking him to abide by the several and terms conditions while offering programmes through distance learning mode during the secession 2015-2016. “No online programme leading to awards of Degree/Certification shall be offered in by the university until a policy is framed and approved by UGC,” the students said quoting the letter adding that such policy has not been framed by UGC so far.
Maroof Qadri told KPS the letter shot to Dean Research was nothing more than leg-pulling because his degree is genuine. He said that he obtained masters degree from IGNOU which is recognised by UGC. “There are many programmes that are done in collaboration with certain institutions in order to give students more exposure,” he said. “But the examinations are conducted and the degree is awarded by the institution where the candidate is registered.”
Qadri said EMBAIT consist of two components: continuous assessment and end term exams. “The 70 percent based on is continues based on assessments which is also known as numerical marking scheme while the 30 percent is based on end-term examination,” he said.“I have appeared in the end-term conducted by IGNOU at our regional centre,” he said.
He denied that his degree is in irrelevant in order to peruse research in Computer Science saying that the EMBAIT deals with the management of Information Technology.
To know how the two different courses are called allied subjects KPS contacted a top official in University, and he said that the content of two courses should match to nearly 70 percent. When asked whether masters in business administration can ally with Information Technology, he responded saying Kashmir University offers MBA in IT. “The 70 percent that course is similar to Computer Science while the rests deals with management,” he added.
Another faculty member wishing anonymity said that he cannot comment whether or not EMBIT is allied to Computer Science. “I cannot comment without knowing what is in EMBAIT,” he said. Another faculty member of Computer Science wishing not to be named told Computer Science is a study of data and algorithms and Executive MBA in IT is art.
Another Computer Science faculty member on the condition of anonymity agreed with the previous faculty member. He went on further to say that MBA IT offered by KU is completely different with the EMBAIT offered by IGNOU. “In the past KU have denied giving permission to peruse research in Computers Science to the people who had done masters in Computer Management,” he said adding, “Al though the course content of Computer Science and Computer Management matches but he was denied to peruse PHD in the University.”
The scholars in the letter also questioned whether Qadri’s claim of completing EMBAIT degree has been properly verified by the concerned body and whether he has submitted course completion and migration certificates at the university.
Qadri’s said, “I have submitted both course completion and migration certificates at the university,” he said, adding, “Everything is being done to malign my image”.
He further said that he approached court and got directions to conduct his interview.
Sources said, President of Kashmir University Teachers Association, Muheet Ahmad Bhat has received a copy of the letter. He said that KUTA has forwarded the letter to the registrar. “He has assured for the timely delivery of justice if anything proved against the accused,” Bhat said.
According sources, KUTA has also shot letter to governor office to probe in this regard and to ascertain the facts.
Dean Research, Kashmir University Zafar Reshi told Kashmir Press Service that he looks after research quality not the admission process of scholars.
He also said, that University normally set up an equivalence committee in many cases to check whether the degrees and accreditations are valid or not but he is not aware of Maroof Qadri’s case.
An (RTI) Right to Information was also filed with IGNOU in this regard to know is executive MBA in IT online porgamme in collaboration with U21 Global eligible for Phd in Computer Science.
For which IGNOU replied that executive MBA in IT online porgamme in collaboration with U21 Global eligible for Phd in Computer Science in not applicable.
However eligibility criteria for an institution to be recognized for online programmes by University Grants Commission are
- The HEI should have been in existence as a University for at least five years.
- The HEI should be NAAC Accredited with a valid minimum score of
3.25 on 4 point scale.
- An HEI may apply for approval to offer online programmes in only those disciplines in which it has already been offering the same or similar programmes in regular mode (of classroom teaching) except the programmes disallowed as in clause 1.3 and from which at least one batch been graduated.
Meanwhile, Registrar Kashmir University Prof. Khurshid Ahmad Butt did not respond to repeated calls. (KPS)
Comments are closed.