Beware, foreign colleges don't have AICTE okay


Take note: that "degree" from a foreign institute, on which you have spent several months and several thousands of rupees, may not have any value at all.


The latest data available with the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) show that only two of the 131 foreign institutes, offering degrees and diplomas in collaboration with Indian partners, have got the necessary approvals from the government. This leaves these institutes open to any action that the government may choose to take. More importantly; students holding these degrees and diplomas may not be recognised by the public sector or most private sector employers.
 

The two institutes that have actually passed the AICTE test are the Aurangabad based Institution of Hotel Management (IHM) and the Asia-Pacific Institute of Iniormation Technology (APIIT) in Haryana.


IHM has tied up with the University of Huddersfield (from the United Kingdom) to offer a BA (honours) in Hotel Management and APIIT has tied up with the Staffordshire University (also from the UK) to offer three courses in computer, software and multimedia engineering.


The AICTE, monitoring and approving agency for all technical institutes offering courses in management, engineering, pharmacy and computer applications, drafted regulations for foreign institutes in May last year. The norms state: "Detailed project reports regarding infrastructure facilities, facilities available for instruction, faculty, prescribed fee, courses, curricula, requisite funds for operation for three years need to be submitted to the AICTE. The fee to be charged and the (student) intake in each course to be offered by a foreign university/institution, leading to a degree or a diploma, shall be as prescribed by the AICTE."


But the agency has failed to ensure that these institutes adhere to the norms.


(TOI:04/12/2006)