Date:24/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/24/stories/2007122458990700.htm

Tamil Nadu

Varsity told not to renew pact with NIAM

Shastry V. Mallady

MADURAI: The Higher Education Secretary has instructed Madurai Kamaraj University not to renew the Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute of Applied Management (NIAM), New Delhi, following allegations made in certain quarters against the agreement.

The Secretary has also asked the university not to admit students to the industry-integrated business management courses, offered under this agreement, from the next academic year.

Official sources in the university told The Hindu on Sunday that the Vice-Chancellor and the university administration were told that a fresh agreement should not be signed with the institute. “At the Syndicate meeting held on December 19, the Higher Education Secretary and other senior government officials looked into the objections raised against the agreement. A resolution was adopted,” a Syndicate member said.

The Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa and Alagappa University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) raised serious objections. It said the revenue-sharing ratio sparked fears about irregularities, and might cause loss to the university. It also called for a probe.

It also urged the university to obtain guidelines and permission from the University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education for offering BBA/MBA in association with private institutions.

The MUTA also opposed the collection of exorbitant fees at different centres for these courses through the ‘brand name’ of the university.