The UGC brought attention to the fact that some people and organizations are providing online degree programs that have acronyms that are similar to those of accredited higher education degree programs.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sent out a strong warning to potential students and stakeholders about fraudulent online degree programs that use deceptive acronyms, like BBA and MBA.
The UGC made public a warning informing people that certain people and organizations are providing online degree programs that have acronyms that are similar to those of accredited higher education programs. The Commission is particularly interested in the “10 Days MBA” curriculum.
“Some individuals/organisations are offering online programmes/courses with acronyms/abbreviated forms similar to the higher education system’s recognised degree programmes. One such programme to which the attention of the Commission has been drawn is ’10 Days MBA’,” UGC secretary Manish Joshi stated.
“The nomenclature of a degree, including its abbreviated form, duration and entry qualification, is specified by the UGC, with the previous approval of the central government, through the publication of a notification in the official gazette,” he specified.
The UGC secretary made it clear that universities created by federal, provincial, or state law, as well as organizations recognized as universities by particular acts of Parliament, are the only organizations authorized to award degrees.
“Higher education institutions are also required to obtain approval from the UGC to offer any online degree programme in terms of the UGC regulations. A list of recognised HEIs (higher education institutions) to offer online programmes and of permitted online programmes is available on deb.ugc.ac.in,” the UGC secretary said.
“Stakeholders are, therefore, advised to ascertain the validity of an online programme before applying or taking admission to any online programme,” Mr Joshi added.
