Madurai Kamaraj University College discontinues MBA for want of affiliation

The career of nearly 220 students is now uncertain as the MBA course offered by Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) College has been discontinued reportedly owing lack of approval from AICTE.

MKU College, which is a self-financed institution run by the university, introduced the MBA course in 2013. In the first batch (in 2015), 24 students completed and received their degree and in the subsequent year 65 got their degrees. In the third and fourth batches 65 students each were admitted and the third batch would be getting their degree shortly. 

At this juncture, the college stopped issuing application forms for the course. When a section of students enquired, principal Irulappan told them that he was just instructed by the university to not issue application forms for MBA course. “I have no other details,” he said.   

When the students approached the University officials, they were reportedly not given a proper response. However, they learnt that there was no approval for the course from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and hence it was discontinued. A former student, who completed MBA from the MKU college, on condition of anonymity, said, “We will not be sought after by any good company. Many of my friends are pursuing PhD after completing the MBA. Their future is also now at stake.”    

Former students said that neither the university nor the college had informed them earlier about the lack of recognition for the course. Apart from that there were other irregularities too in the course. A student elaborated that he had opted for HR in the course, but there was no mention of the specialisation in the degree certificate. “Whenever I apply for job in good companies, my candidature has been rejected. I am not able to explain the problem to HR personnel in those firms,” he rued.

When MKU Registrar (in-charge), Arumugam, was asked about the discontinuation of the MBA course, he said that there were several requirements for MBA as cited by the AICTE such as appointment of programme director and so on. As the norms laid down by the council could not be fulfilled, the course had to be discontinued, he clarified.

When asked about the fate of those who had completed the unrecognised degree, he was evasive and said that only the Vice Chancellor, who will be appointed shortly, will have to initiate action.