‘Higher Education to Everyone, Everywhere’- Karnataka State Open University Seeks Admissions

‘Higher Education to Everyone, Everywhere’- Karnataka State Open University Seeks Admissions

Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangalore Press Club, Prof. D. Shivalingaiah Vice-Chancellor of The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) said, “KSOU was established with a motto of “Higher Education to Everyone, Everywhere” by the Government of Karnataka on 01.06.1996 under the provision of Karnataka State Open University Act 1992 for introduction and promotion of Open and Distance Learning education system in the educational pattern of the State and for co-ordination and determination of standard of such systems. Since the standard of education is maintained in this University, the strength of students during the year 2012-13 was increased from 17,000 to more than one lakh during the year 2012-13.

“He further said, The University shall strive to fulfill the above objects by a diversity means of distance and continuing education and shall function in operating with the existing Universities and Institutions of higher learning and make full use of the latest scientific knowledge and new educational technology to offer a high quality of education which matches contemporary needs. Karnataka State Open University functions through-out the State of Karnataka. The University has established a Regional Centre in Mangaluru and four Learners’ Support Centres (Study Centres) are functioning under the jurisdiction of this Regional Centre. This Press Meet is organized to enable the students of this region to seek admissions to the various programmes (courses)”.

“Regarding, Recognition – 2018-19: After publication of the Regulations-2017 by the UGC, this University submitted a detailed proposal with complete documents through online and also in-person to the UGC seeking recognition for the academic year 2018-19. As per the direction of the UGC, the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor and other Officers of this University attended the interface meeting on 05.07.2018 seeking recognition to ‘32’ in-house non-technical programmes with compete information and documents. After considering the proposal, the UGC has granted recognition for a period of 5 years from 2018-19 to 2022-23, with permission to offer 17 in-house non-technical programmes, namely-B.A.; M.A. (Economics); B.Com.; M.A. (Political Science); B.Lib.I.Sc.; M.A. (Public Administration); M.A. (Kannada); M.A. (Sociology); M.A. (English); M.A. (Journalism and Mass Communication); M.A. (Hindi); M.Com.; M.A. (Urdu); M.Lib.I.Sc.; M.A. (Ancient History & Archeology); M.Sc., (Environmental Science); and M.A. (History)” added Prof. D. Shivalingaiah

“I extend my sincere gratitude to His Excellency the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka and Staff, all Officers of the UGC and Staff, former and present Hon’ble Chief Ministers of Government of Karnataka, former and present Hon’ble Ministers for Education, former and present other Ministers, former and present Members of Legislature and Council, Officers and Staff of Higher Education Department, Hon’ble Ministers of Government of India, Members of Parliament, Officers and Staff of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Members of the Board of Management and Academic Council of this University, the well-wishers of the Media and Press who have extended their full co-operation and all Officers and Staff of this University as well as the various Organizations and also to those who have extended their full co-operation directly and indirectly in connection with obtaining the recognition to this University. I solicit their co-operation to the over-all development of this University in future also” acknowledged Prof. D. Shivalingaiah.

Dr K P Mahalinga- Regional Director, KSOU Udupi Centre, and Dr Basavaraj- Regional Director, KSOU Mangaluru Centre were also seated on the dais during the press meet.

Admission of Students – 2018-19:

Prospectus, application for admission and challan for payment of fee is uploaded in the University’s official website www.ksoumysore.karnataka.gov.in to various courses. The student may download Prospectus, application for admission and challan for payment of fee from the above mentioned official website of this University. Student may submit the duly filled-in application after remitting the fees in any one of the branches of State Bank of India along with the necessary documents and fee paid challan to the Regional Centre of their choice and obtain acknowledgment.

Eligibility for Admission:

A student should have passed two years P.U.C. or equivalent examination for admission to undergraduate course and should have passed minimum 3 years or more than 3 years of undergraduate degree or equivalent examination for admission to post-graduate courses.

There is no restriction regarding number of students to be admitted to the various ‘17’ programmes. Admissions will be provided to all the eligible students.

The students, enrolled in KSOU during 2013-14 & 2014-15 and discontinued the studies/failed in such courses, may seek fresh admission to first year UG/PG courses in 2018-19. The interested students of in-house courses may use this opportunity and avail 50% concession in tuition fee only.

Admission Fees:

Tuition Fees which were prevailing during the year 2014 are continued for the academic year 2018-19 not to cause heavy financial burden on the part of the students. Self-learning materials are prepared and kept ready for the use of students as per the new Regulations of the UGC. Self-learning materials are available in Kannada version for B.A. and M.A. Programmes. Students need not pay separate fees for Self-learning materials.

Examination Reforms:

Necessary action is taken to provide Transfer Certificate, Marks Cards, Provisional Passing Certificates (PPC), Migration Certificates, Convocation Certificates and other certificates through online.

National Academic Depository (NAD) is an Online Store House. The function of this NAD is to upload the Transfer Certificates, Marks Cards, Provisional Passing Certificates (PPC), Migration Certificates, Convocation Certificates and other certificates in the digital mode. In this regard, this University has entered into an agreement on 25.06.2018 with NSDL Data Base Management Limited (NDML) as a service provider.

Any educational institutions or the students may verify the genuineness of marks cards or other certificates through the website. Moreover, the employers who have appointed the candidates holding the degrees from this University can verify the genuineness of the certificates etc., through the website and they need not correspond or visit this University in-person. A Nodal Officer is also appointed to co-ordinate with NAD Cell.

Students Grievances Redressal Cell:

The students for submitting their grievances, they have to follow the following procedure.

Step 1: Go to official website of KSOU www.ksoumysore.karnataka.gov.in

Step 2: Go and click Student Grievances Redressal Cell.

Step 3: Click the link https://www.ugc.ac.in/grievance/login_home.aspx?q=1 available in the Grievances Redressal.

Step 4: By clicking https://www.ugc.ac.in/grievance/login_home.aspx?q=1, you will go to UGC Website and a menu ‘Student/Complainant Login’ will appear.

Step 5: In the ‘Student/Complainant Login’ menu, fill-up the details and click ‘register’.

Step 6: By clicking ‘register’ you will go to ‘Student/Complainant Registration for Submitting Grievance’.

Step 7: Fill-up all the mandatory columns with necessary particulars and click register appearing at the bottom of the menu.

After the completion of the above procedure (from Step 1 to Step 7), the Nodal Officer of this University will get a message by default. Subsequently, the grievances of the student will be examined as per the rules and the action taken in this regard will be sent to the e-mail of the student through the UGC website.

Future Plans:

Action has been taken to obtain the permission of the UGC with regard to start the programmes pending by complying the conditions. The University is prepared to get the recognition in respect of those programmes pending with the UGC. There is a provision to submit an appeal before the UGC in this regard.

A Notification for admission of students for various ‘17’ in-house non-technical programmes is already notified in both Kannada and English Newspapers. Last date for admission is 01.10.2018.

In addition to the ‘17’ programmes, Skill Development Training courses is introduced. The duration of Skill Development Training for Post Graduate students is 2 years and 3 years for Under Graduate students. Along with the B.A., B.Com., B.Lib.I.Sc., M.A., M.Sc., and M.Lib.I.Sc., Skill Development Training is provided.

Action has been taken to recruit the teaching faculties on permanent basis. There is a provision for appointment of retired teaching faculties with expertise in the concerned teaching subjects on temporary basis as Visiting/Adjunct faculties to cope with the teaching work load in case of delay in recruitment.

Action has been taken to provide all the services to the students through ‘SAKALA’ scheme.

Action has been taken to ensure the administration procedure through online.

Action has been taken to create a qualitative academic environment in the interest of the students.

Action has been taken to introduce CBCS syllabus from the next academic year.

Importance is given to PG Diploma, Diploma, Certificate courses and Skill Development courses.

Action has been taken to offer Ph.D. Programmes as per the UGC Regulations-2016.

Action has been taken to maintain eco-friendly environment in this University.

Appeal to Students, Parents & Public:

At present, this University has secured a legal status since the UGC has granted recognition for a period of five years from the academic year 2018-19 as per the UGC Regulations – 2017. Admission Notification is already published in the various Kannada and English Newspapers for the current Academic Year. There is no difference between the degrees obtained through the conventional universities and the degrees obtained through the Open Universities. The UGC has issued many circulars in this regard and the Hon’ble Courts have also pronounced the judgments.

The students who have obtained the degrees through the Open Universities are eligible for submitting the applications for appearing to the competitive examinations such as KAS, IAS, IPS etc., and also for the posts of Assistant Professors in the Department of Education and for the posts invited by the Central as well as State Governments. Therefore, the students can seek the admission in this University without any panic. It will be ensured that, there will be no violation of rules in this University in future.

Special facilities to the students for admission in KSOU:

1.Special concession to women candidates.

The women candidates having the BPL cards, can seek admission to different academic programmes, for which they can avail 25% concession in tuition fee. Such candidates shall submit photocopy of self-attested BPL Card at the time of admission.

2. SC/ST candidates can seek fee exempted admission subject to fee reimbursement by the Social Welfare Department.

The University has already started admission process for UG and PG programmes during 2018-19. The eligible SC/ST students can avail fee exempted admission facility as per the fee exemption rules of the State Government. The SC/ST students have to register themselves in the web portal of the State Government. But, many SC/ST students have reported that they are unable to seek admission, as the portal is not opened, as a result many eligible such students are unable to get admission. Large numbers of SC/ST students take admission in our University. The last date for admission fixed by the UGC is 01.10.2018 for the year 2018-19, hence short duration for admission. This will affect the admission strength. Considering the problems faced by the SC/ST students, the Board of Management has resolved to give them an opportunity to seek provisional admission against the payment of Admission Process Fee of Rs.300/- and Skill Development Fee of Rs.500/-. (Total fee of Rs.800/-).

In view of the above, all the Regional Directors of KSOU Regional Centres have been instructed to inform SC/ST students to avail of the admission facility.

ADDRESS OF THE REGIONAL CENTRE-MANGALURU:

KSOU Regional Centre, Vokkaliga Yane Gowdara Seva Sangha, 3rd Floor (Near Shiradi Saibaba Temple), Udupi Main Road, Lady Hill, Ashoka Nagar Post, Mangaluru – 575 006.

Addresses of the Learners’ Support Centre:

(1) Dr. Dayananda P.Pai-Sathish P.Pai Government First Grade College, Ratha Beedhi, Mangaluru – 575 001, Dakshina Kannada District.

(2) St Philomena College, Philomena Nagar, Darbe Post, Puttur – 574 202, Dakshina Kannada District.

(3) Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College, Ujire – 574 240, Dakshina Kannada District.

(4) Government First Grade College, Vitlla – 574 242, Dakshina Kannada District.

ADDRESS OF KSOU REGIONAL CENTRE-UDUPI

KSOU Regional Centre, Old Jilla Panchayat Building, 2nd Floor Banaje, Udupi – 576 101.

Addresses of the Learners’ Support Centre:

(1) M.G.M. College, Udupi-Manipal Hwy, Kunjibettu, Udupi-576 102.

(2) Dr. G.Shankar Government Women First Grade College & PG Centre, Ajjarakadu,

Udupi – 576 101.

(3) Sri Bhuvanendra College, Karkala, Udupi District -574 140.

(4) Government First Grade College, Agumbe – Udupi Highway, Hiriadka-576113, Udupi Dist.

Note: The students of the neighbouring places of Mangaluru may also contact the Regional Centre, Mangaluru for their grievances.