Is AICTE Approval Necessary for Open Universities? Seeking Guidance from Experienced Peers

Dear seniors,

I want to know whether it is essential for an Open University to get AICTE approval. Someone just told me it's not essential for open universities. I went through the AICTE site but couldn't find any information regarding this. Please guide.

Aparajita

If you want the course to have value and acceptance everywhere, you need to study a course and attend a college approved by AICTE. If there is no approval from AICTE, please do not choose that college or course. I have gathered enough cases from students who joined colleges that falsely claimed to have the affiliation and approval from AICTE, which later turned out to be false.

Regards,
Keshava

Hello,

Either AICTE or HRD approval is required for a university; otherwise, it should be a deemed university. An open university without AICTE or HRD sanction is useless and not valid.

Thank you,
Octavious

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thanx a lot for the quick replies. now let me put forward d specific case i am talking about. this uni is a well known open uni in the eastern part of the country.it is recognized by:
-University Grants Commission of India Under section – 2(f)of the UGC Act
-Distance Education Council,Govt. of India, the regulatory apex body of ODL in India, from which the University receives grants for its different developmental activities
The University receives financial assistance from the State Government towards its maintenance and developmental activities
The uni is a member of :
-Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
-Association of Asian Open Universities (AAOU)
-Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
it does not hav aicte approval till date.
please throw some light

A university covered by UGC can design and run its own course after getting approved by UGC.

Technical Education provided by Open university must be accredited by a competent body like AICTE/DOEACC/MCI.

It is also true if a college runs a particular technical course, even if it is affiliated with some university covered by UGC.

Thanks again for the answer. I am still not clear about the status. Will the students enrolled in the MBA course run by the above-mentioned uni face any problems later on in their career?

Dear Airavat,

Being associated with a body does not necessarily mean that it is a legal entity or a body with quasi-statutory powers recognized by the Government of India. In the case of UGC, HRD, DOEACC, they are recognized accreditations provided by law or the government.

Kindly review the above statements along with Arvind's statements. I hope this information aids you.

Thank you,
Octavious

I have already taken admission in a college which is UGC approved but not AICTE. Will I be facing a problem? Please reply.

Thanks for all these replies, but I am still confused over this matter. Let me put it in one line: Will the students of MBA from an open university, which is recognized by UGC and Distance Education Learning, Government of India, but not by AICTE, face any problems in their careers?

Well, let me explain a few things.

MBA is a degree, while PGDBM is a diploma. MBA is always awarded by a University, whereas PGDBM is an institute's autonomous program.

The authenticity of a university is determined by the University Grants Commission (UGC), while the authenticity of a PGDBM from an institute is based on the approval of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

An institute offering an MBA degree must follow the curriculum of the affiliated University. On the other hand, an institute offering PGDBM creates its own curriculum, which is monitored by AICTE.

If you have enrolled in a UGC-recognized university offering an MBA degree, then there should not be any issues as a degree does not require AICTE approval.

I hope I was able to address your concerns to some extent.

Ok, I got my answer. Thank you. Another thing I would like to know is, is ICFAI better than any management college which is UGC approved? Many people are asking me why I haven't taken admission in ICFAI, but someone told me that ICFAI is neither AICTE nor UGC approved. I also visited the sites of UGC and AICTE where ICFAI is not mentioned, which could create problems when applying for a work visa. Please suggest me on this aspect.

Hello,

I support what Aaks stated, and that's exactly what I have been trying to explain. But due to some lapse on my end, I was unable to do so. Since you have had your query answered, I would request you to kindly focus on performing well in your studies.

Take care and complete your MBA soon.

Thank you,
Octavious

Please reply to my query. Until I am 100% sure, I am having sleepless nights. I took admission only yesterday.

Hi Airavat & Sohni,

I have dealt with all these issues of AICTE, etc., so let me put these issues in the correct perspective.

1. UGC grants permission to set up universities with BA, BSc, BCA, MA, MSc, etc.

2. All colleges running such courses come under a Central/State University. AICTE grants permission to run colleges only for MBA, BTech, Hotel Management, BArch. AICTE insists that all institutes running MBA or any variant should have AICTE approval, which is as flimsy as the ISI mark, but it is a statutory requirement. They grant permission for both MBA degree under a Univ OR a PGDBM (independent). The only people who have not gone to AICTE yet are IIMs, IITs, ISB, IIPM, and they are not bothered about AICTE because of their reputation.

Now coming to your specific questions -

1. Airavat - Distance education does not come under the purview of AICTE, so your MBA if given by an authentic university as you say, it will hold good as MBA for all practical purposes.

2. Sohini - Your case is tricky. ICFAI doesn't have a good track record in handling students. If AICTE gets after them, they may derecognize, may ask the univ to close down the course, and the students have nowhere to go after that. AICTE recognition for any kind of MBA/PGDBM is MANDATORY - NOT OPTIONAL. In 2006, Amity was running an unrecognized MBA, and AICTE got after them, and the students had to leave the course midway since the course was closed.

If you have any further queries on these issues, please let me know. I can answer them since I have worked in an MBA institute and have dealt with AICTE for three years.

Riyaz

Hi,

AICTE approval is not necessary for universities providing distance education. According to the Supreme Court verdict in the case of AICTE vs. Bharathidasan University, it was ruled that AICTE permission is necessary only for colleges running full-time education. Therefore, if you wish to join distance education, look out for approval from UGC and DEC. However, for full-time courses, AICTE approval is mandatory.

Regards,
Ketan

Let me Try

AICTE is the statutory body of the Ministry of HRD, and it takes care of the Technical Courses like B.Tech, B. Pharmacy, MBA, and PGDBM Courses. The main function of AICTE is to look for Infrastructure, the minimum standards as prescribed by the AICTE. For non-university affiliated courses like PGDBM, AICTE plays a greater role, and its course contents are also designed by AICTE.

In University affiliated colleges, AICTE has a minimum role and is responsible only for the infrastructure side.

The Supreme Court in one of its decisions has clearly stated that AICTE has no jurisdiction over Universities, and they are free to launch their own courses and will be responsible for the teaching and course.

Universities are governed by Central Legislation, UGC, and State Legislations.

Any University-affiliated college without AICTE approval is valid, as it is the responsibility of the University for the awarding of the Degree.

Dear Sohini Roy,

I am a Professor teaching MBA in an AICTE-recognized Engineering College. As far as I know, an MBA course without AICTE's approval is not recognized for government jobs and higher studies. Depending on luck, you may secure a job in the private sector. In terms of technical education, AICTE is the supreme authority in the country, with overriding powers over UGC in this matter.

I hope the position is clear to you.

Regards,
Prof. V.N.M. Nair
vnmnair@gmail.com

Don't worry, it is the curriculum and acceptance by the corporates that decide the career of any student and not the AICTE. When AICTE-approved colleges fail to excel academically, many colleges which are not on the list of AICTE have succeeded in delivering quality education and placements.

Do the foreign universities set up in India have the so-called approval???

Madhu.T.K

Dear Fellow,

I am working in an AICTE-approved institute as faculty, and I want to clarify that for Independent PGDM (Full Time), AICTE approval is a must. For University MBA programs, there is no requirement to obtain AICTE approval compulsorily.

In my institute, we offer three types of courses:

1. MBA - Affiliated with GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi. Exams include both external and internal assessments.

2. PGDM (Full Time) - Approved by AICTE but not affiliated with any university. Both of the above courses are designed for regular students who are eligible for education loans from banks. The institute also provides placement opportunities. These students are eligible for government jobs that require two years of full-time study. The course fees are approximately 7 lakhs for the two-year program. Exams are conducted internally.

3. PGDM (Distance Learning) - Approved by the Distance Education Council (DEC) of IGNOU. The course fees are 50,000 for a two-year program. This course is tailored for working professionals. There are no placement services, and students are not eligible for government jobs. Since these students are already working, job placement is not necessary for them. This course is not approved by AICTE.

Thank you.

Hello Ramkesh,

I think you are mistaken about the MBA not being approved by AICTE. It is a rule that MBA or PGDBM, or any of its variants, has to be approved by AICTE compulsorily. GGSIP Univ will not allow a college to run an MBA program without AICTE approval. Your college must have taken AICTE approval for both the MBA and PGDBM programs.

Distance learning programs of any variety need not be approved by AICTE. However, if they are going to award a proper 'Degree,' then the same has to be approved by UGC.

Riyaz

Hello Riyaz,

To some extent, you are correct. Earlier, it was compulsory for University-affiliated MBA institutes to seek approval from AICTE. However, after the Supreme Court judgment in Bhartisadan University, it is no longer mandatory for University-affiliated MBA institutes to obtain approval from AICTE. The Supreme Court ruling holds the status of the law of the land and has overriding jurisdiction over the AICTE Bylaws. Therefore, it is now up to the University-affiliated MBA institutes to decide whether they wish to seek approval from AICTE or not.

Ramkesh

Hi,

For distance learning, Distance Education Council approval is required. There is no need for it to be recognized by the UGC. DEC itself is a Statutory Body. Once it is recognized by DEC, the distance degree is approved. You can check all approved institutes at [link no longer exists - removed].

Dear Basu,

If the course is not approved by AICTE norms, it means that the course will not carry any weightage nor acceptance all over India for its holder. This is the actual bare truth, but many colleges are conducting courses which are not recognized by AICTE.

During your exams, if you could get the hall ticket from the Directorate of Technical Education of that particular state, later I shall definitely help you.

Regards,
Keshava

Dear Colleagues,

AICTE is a government body, and SISI is also a government-run institute. One day, I saw the name of SISI on the list of institutes running without the approval of AICTE. Is it not a mockery for a government institute to not follow another governing body? If AICTE had any problem with Icfai running its courses without approval, it would publish it in the press or direct Icfai to seek recognition. However, neither has been done, nor has UGC accused Icfai of anything. When the highest authorities are not concerned or convinced about Icfai's operations, why should we worry?

There are 12,000 students pursuing MBA at Icfai in regular mode, and the placements among them are excellent. I mention this because my younger brother is studying at Icfai National College, and I am more concerned about the employability skills taught there than about UGC or AICTE. Icfai students have a proven track record of successful careers in companies such as ABN Amro Bank, Axis Bank, Britannia, and many more. If the employers providing placements are not concerned, why should we be? Government jobs typically rely on undergraduate degrees rather than MBAs.

Icfai already has seven universities in India and plans to establish ten more in the next five years. They have begun operations in Sri Lanka, are opening a university in Southern Australia in two years, and have future plans for Malaysia, Dubai, and the US. India, with a population of over 1.1 billion, has only 354 universities, which is a national shame compared to countries like the US and Japan. Private players like Icfai aim to provide employability skills along with an MBA, as there is a need for more universities in India.

Affiliation to a specific university is common in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, unlike in the rest of the world. We trust the tea vendor for a ₹5 tea, travel in trains and buses for ₹50 entrusting our lives to strangers, so why not trust institutes like Icfai that have been in India for 25 years offering reputable educational programs like CFA? Belief is essential, without which we would perish.

Thanks and regards,

Santhosh Jacob

Thank you everybody for your helpful suggestions and advice. I have left everything to God and am joining the course in July. I hope I have not made the wrong decision. I feel that with 2 years of experience, my MBA certificate with or without AICTE will hardly matter. Let's hope for the best. If my decision has hurt anyone, then I am sorry, but I had no other option than to make this decision. I have already deposited my tuition fees last week. Once again, thanks to all.

Thanks to all the members for their valuable opinions. Now, I have another question: My final result is going to be out this month. After that, I want to do a Ph.D. For that, which university will be more suitable, the university which I have already mentioned about or IGNOU?

Hey everyone,

I'm into Resourcing. According to my experience, a degree is only a benchmark to get in. There are only 25% of companies who really care about the institute. It is very difficult for companies to source the right candidate. Provided your resume speaks well, and you excel in your interview, most organizations will hire you overlooking the institute. Quality is what employers look at. "Not all ISI marked products are good" - that speaks a lot.

At the same time, I reckon a full-time course holds value if done by an AICTE approved college. Part-time/correspondence does not matter much.

Hi friend, AICTE approval will only help you if you plan to pursue higher education. The basic issues to consider are college standards, teaching methods, placement activities, knowledge imparted, and the exposure provided. All these factors are important; while AICTE approval is necessary, it should not be prioritized over the criteria mentioned above.

Regards,
Nirmal

Hi, for Open University, it's not required. It depends on the course you are planning to do. However, it should be approved by the Distance Education Council.

The institutions which are UGC approved, namely any university either by state act or by Central act, do not require UGC approval as mandatory. However, if they seek it, then nothing like it. In several judgments of the Supreme Court, it has been made clear that AICTE has no authority over the functioning of UGC-run courses.

Mishra has rightly said it. AICTE has nothing to do with the curriculum of the college/university. AICTE has to oversee the institution's infrastructure to conduct a course of study. It is the curriculum that determines the careers of students and not the quality of buildings and other material objects.

Regards,
Madhu.T.K

Friend,

For recognition of a University, the UGC is the main governing body. The recognition of professional courses such as B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, etc., requires approval from AICTE until the 2007-2008 financial year. After that, permission was granted for the respective statutory bodies, i.e., the Board of Management, Academic Council, Planning Board, etc., of the University to decide on the programs to be offered through distance mode and to seek necessary approval from the respective regulatory bodies.

Thank you.

If an institute is offering an MBA program affiliated with a foreign university that holds good weightage, but the institute itself is not approved by AICTE, will it create a problem for the student's career?

---

Dear Friends,

AICTE is responsible for technical educational institutions other than universities. The Supreme Court reprimanded AICTE in the Bharathidasan University case. This means that AICTE cannot control Indian Universities, including Deemed Universities.

UGC mentioned to AICTE that they can inspect deemed universities but should not take any action without informing them. If needed, they will take action. Now, AICTE's new regulation to control foreign universities...in India, it does not have any control over even Indian Universities under Indian Law! Foreign universities operate under foreign law, within WTO & GATT, conducting business in India. India currently lacks a law to prevent this. AICTE has notified new regulations, but who authorized them to do so?

AICTE is exceeding its powers, going against the Indian Government's stance. The Indian government states that there are no restrictions for foreign universities to operate in India. Silence implies permission. However, why isn't the Indian Government creating new laws? AICTE cannot act as the Indian Government.

UGC was criticized by the Delhi High Court in a case involving Amity University. The court questioned, 'Who gave you permission to approve State and Central Universities?' Once upon a time, genuine state universities waited for UGC approval for years. Who requested UGC to approve State Universities?

All of this only happens in India! In these circumstances, professors talk nonsense, appearing outdated. The government has the authority to shut down any fraudulent institution but why don't they act?

Many institutions will emerge in India, but can they guarantee jobs to students holding State University MBA degrees? No. Unaccredited B-Schools may provide placements, as we, poor Indians, need jobs to survive. Professors from government institutions may engage in meaningless discussions as they are not in need. They feed off government funds.

Intellectuals mainly come from the private or autonomous sectors. In the government sector, you mostly find incompetent individuals. If capable, they could start their own business schools. They seem envious – it's a fact. Most professors in government sectors are unaware of the country's laws.

In conclusion, "If any student wants a Rs.6000/MONTH government job, please enroll in an AICTE-approved business school. For better salaries, choose a school with a proven track record of providing good jobs. Professors from State Universities may mislead you. Be cautious."

I have a very serious problem. I completed my B.B.A from a UGC-recognized government college. Our B.B.A course is affiliated with the state university here, which conducts the entrance exams and all the final exams for this course. I recently cleared the written exam of Oriental Insurance Company for the post of Administrative Officer. When I went for the interview, they asked me to submit AICTE approval for my course, but my college hasn't taken approval from AICTE. They are saying that the course is affiliated with the university, so they do not require the approval. I am totally confused and don't know what to do. My college has been running this course for the last 10 years, and no student till now has faced any problem. Please help me because my whole career depends on it. I have appeared for many bank P.O exams as well and am afraid that they will cancel my eligibility for not having AICTE approval. The private sector isn't doing well, so I want to get into the public sector for now. Please reply as soon as possible.

Any person pursuing technical education in India is supposed to be doing so from an institute approved by AICTE, except from recognized Central/State Universities, Deemed Universities, Universities formed under Section 3(f) i.e. Private University, Institutes of national importance (e.g., IITs, IIMs, IIS, NID, NIFT, etc.) created by an enactment of law in parliament. Kindly refer to the AICTE site where the list of unapproved colleges is available. Some degrees are equivalent to Indian degrees, for which one needs to submit their foreign-earned certificate to the Association of Indian Universities, Kotla Marg, New Delhi, where they will ascertain its equivalence in India. Regarding Open universities, there are a few cases pending in different courts of law. Some High Court judgments have expressed that they are not supposed to provide regular technical education, M.Phil, PhD, etc., but it is now in the Supreme Court, and once the verdict is out, the confusion will settle down.