FDDI classes restart, but degree unrest continues

NOIDA: Students of the Footwear Design and Development Institute returned to their classes on Monday as the institute lifted its self-imposed two-month break, even as confusion and outcry over the degree row continues.
The FDDI administration had put on hold the examination process and announced a semester-break for all its campuses on May 16 after tension over "legitimate degrees" had boiled over, leading to boycott of classes and widespread protests by students.
The institute has now reopened the college and is promising students of the 2015 batch degrees from IGNOU in open and distance learning mode for six courses after the UGC (University Grants Commission) gave its nod. Students of the 2016 batch, admissions for which started on July 8, will also get degrees from IGNOU.
The fate of more than 3,600 students of the 2014, 2013 and 2012 batches, however, is still undecided and they are planning to hold more protests. A case for the three batches is pending in the Supreme Court and the next hearing is scheduled for August 1.
Students of three other courses—B.Sc (Business Entrepreneurship), B.Sc (Fashion Designing) and M.Sc (Business Entrepreneurship)—that were earlier offered by the institute have also been left in the lurch as FDDI has not yet received a UGC nod to offer degrees for them through the IGNOU route. Institute officials said the course content for these three is being reviewed by UGC and study material has been sent to an expert committee formed by the regulatory body.
However, students said they have already been given three options by the institute - either switch to a course which has got UGC's approval, apply for a recognized degree in another course from another university, or continue with the course and take an FDDI diploma.
"We did not take admission in the course only to change it mid-way. Changing one's course would mean we have wasted a year. Applying somewhere else means more expenses," Divisha Choudhary, a student of Fashion Designing said.
Students of courses that will get IGNOU degrees are also unhappy with the resolution, saying they were promised regular degrees at the start and the institute fee is too high for an open degree. "We will continue our agitation for legitimate degrees. Hopefully, the court would rule in our favour," Sandeep Priyadarshini, a student of Business Management said.
Sandeep Bhatia, deputy managing director, FDDI, did not respond when asked about the allegations and the status of the review process of courses.