People should not opt MBA/ PG Courses from these institutes (Distance mode) Dear all,

Whether this is politics or trade or education, everything has become a business now and people have stopped following ethical practices even in education. Education also has become an industry now. Well, many people have wrong opinion about Open Universities and distance learning which is not true at all. People think distance learning and open universities degree holders are less capable. Believe me, educational background or academic performance has nothing to do with an individual's capacity to be successful in a professional life. Yes, the degrees help them to understand the subject, gain knowledge and maturity at certain level. Today many executives/ managers/ working professionals prefer to upgrade their educational qualification and knowledge and for this, the opt non conventional system of education such as e-learning, distance learning, correspondence courses. The standard in awarding distance learning degree is not less than a conventional full time degree courses hence the people's myth that it is easier to pass distance learning degree is completely wrong. Let me illustrate this: University of Mumbai University of Mumbai offers degree in both distance mode and regular-full time campus mode. Only 5% of university of Mumbai colleges are of worth and rest all are rubbish and useless. The faculty doesn't have subject knowledge and practicality of the course (Whatever subject it may be- BE, MBA, BMS, B.Sc. IT and so on). For first year and second year of regular courses (like BA, B.Com, B.Sc.) college only conduct examination, issue certificates and only 3rd year (i.e. final year) examination happens through university. The affiliated colleges self prepare question papers, they self conduct examinations and they self issue marksheets. In this case 40% colleges are involved in malpractices. The quality of these college students are worst. In the name of college project, they take materials from internet like wikipedia, paste it and submit it. The useless faculty award them marks even without checking. Well now about syllabus. The college divide syllabus into 2 terms i.e. term 1 and term 2. Student need to learn pass pass half book (and still they remove few chapters and the teachers also don't want burden and those who are going for tuition get IMPs just day before of the exams). Whatever chapters have come in the first term do not come in the second terms.

Distance learning: If any student opt these degrees in distance learning mode from University of Mumbai, it is an ordeal for them. Reason, the whole book will come, they have to study the whole book, strict supervision at exam centres, strict valuation of papers. Now you decide which student is better?

Well, I again come back to the main points. Does this mean many Diplomas/ Degrees/ MBAs awarded in distance learning mode are good and should student opt them and should corporate accept them?

My answer is strictly "NO". As I told, education has also become a business now and it is an

industry. It is easy and lucrative business. Even many top ranked institutes are using their brand and offering many courses under distance learning mode. These courses are neither at par with an MBA degree nor it is valid for higher education. I am providing the list here:

1. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) Symbiosis is a well known institute and one of the most reputed B schools in India. but my friends, this is only for their full time programmes. Symbiosis offer PGDBA, PGDHRM and many such programmes in the distance learning mode. Please note that nowhere in their advertisement and on their website they mention that their programme is not equivalent to an MBA degree and it is not valid for any job in public sector where MBA is a prerequisite. After doing PGDBA and any other such 2 years programme you are not eligible to pursue research degree. You are also not eligible for higher studies in India and abroad. Their exam and evaluation system is also pathetic. They conduct online exam with multiple choice question. You have one question and 4 answers for the same. Whatever you feel appropriate, you can opt. Of course you will be given certificate only for correct answers but if you are little smart, by just a guess work you can complete the course. I strongly believe that any professional course should have case study based examination system. Such type of Diploma will not increase anybody's efficiency either. I have mail copy from SCDL where they have self declared that these programmes are not equivalent to MBA.

2. Welingkar Institute of Management Like symbiosis, welingkar is also a well known institute but everything, their modus operandi, the exam pattern and rest other things is same like SCDL. Kindly read above reason only.

3. Balaji Institute of Modern Management, Pune This is another institute in line. They claim that their qualifications/ diplomas are approved from DEC but they too don't mention that it is not equivalent to an MBA programme. They offer following programme:

PGDM, PGDMM, PGDFMMM, PGDM&FM, PGDHRM, PGDP&MM, PGDRM, PGDSCM, PGDS&MM

4. ITM, Kharghar ITM is also a well known institute but again it is misusing its name. The Distance learning MBA programme from ITM is not approved from AICTE, it is not a university hence not eligible to

award MBA degree or any degree. Again, their exam pattern is like 50% marks for internal assignment (They ask student to submit project report and presentation in group and student copy it from the net and submit to the institute. They finally get higher internal marks) rest 50% is covered through examination. No case study based approach. Degree is not valid for higher education and for job in India or abroad. Yes, if student take their assignment seriously, they can improve a lot in their presentation skills.

5. Sikkim Manipal University This university offers lot of distance learning programme and I term it as a degree producing factory instead of terming them as university. University should impart real education and must not produce degree to earn money. This university offers online exam system again with the same system of 1 question and 4 multiple answer, select it, get pass, get the degree and most of the student without any upgradation of knowledge. How its BCA/ M.Tech/ B.Sc. IT and MBAs programme is useful when students are not equipped with the skill to handle real business problem? as an HR do we need to hire only degree holders? Of course not.

6. ICFAI This institute tried to established itself as an university by using loophole in the Chhatisgarh Private University Act and then our honourable Supreme Court of India termed all universities established under this Act as unconstitutional. Then ICFAI established university in Tripura. Its exam pattern and motive is as same of ICFAI and charge more than 1 Lakh Rs for a distance learning MBA. Again, 1 question, 4 answer, get degree and go. Yes, its MBAs are approved and you can go for higher studies in India but I don't know when it will fall again if somebody will file petition in our honourable Supreme Court.

7. Amity University Distance learning MBA and other programmes Kindly refer reason as given for ICFAI.

8. Indian Institute of Commerce and Trade This is a fake institute and not recongized at all. Pay money and get your degree.

9. Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) One of the worst institute and one of the biggest educational scam in India, even if you are not a graduate you can get MBA from here (Do BBA from there, get 2 years experience and automatic get an MBA) You can refer following link which is enough to explain why is this a fake institute. http://www.iipmscam.com/

10. MIT School of Distance Education Same as SCDL, Welingkar and BIMM

11. Don Bosco University, Assam, Assam Down Town University Very soon, all these private universities will have fate of the same Chhatisgarh University (Private) so I strictly advised anybody to keep away themselves from it)

12.IIBM Institute of Business Management website http://www.iibmsixsigma.com/ This is a fake institute

13. ISBM (Indian School of Business and Management) website: http://www.isbm.org.in/Masters_PG.html Fake institute

14. National Institute of Management (NIM)- spread across India Website: http://site.nimonweb.com/html/nim-corr-courses.htm A largest network of fake MBA degree. Pay money and get your degree. No need to give exam too. Solve questions at home and send them the answer and they will send you the degree.

15. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)- Distance Learning it offers following courses PBDBM PGDHRM PGDMM PGDFM PGDBFM PGDSCM PGDITM but like SCDL and welingkar, nowhere it mention that their programme is not equivalent to an MBA degree. It is also encashing its brand name.

I am literally fed up and will add the list later. They all are bullshitting us. UGC says that franchising of education is not permissible and commercialisation of education is prohibited but everybody is doing it.Many universities including IGNOU and Pondicherry are giving franchisee (For example Karrox Technology) and earning moeny. The so called Distance Education is either blind or they have taken a lot of bribe and not taking any action against such institutes.