Javadekar promises nod for non-technical courses at KSOU

Union Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday promised to grant recognition to non-technical courses in the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) at Mysuru.

During his meeting with Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, the Union Minister said he was aware of the KSOU issue and promised to resolve the matter at the earliest.

While refusing to grant permission to technical courses of the open university, the minister said he favoured giving recognition to only non-technical courses.

However, he also said further details including certain terms and conditions for running courses would be intimated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the university separately, sources said.

Five MPs from Karnataka Pralhad Joshi, B Sriramulu, Karadi Sanganna, Suresh Angadi and Gaddi Gowdar were also present during the meeting. The UGC had earlier withdrawn recognition to courses run by the KSOU beyond 2012-13 on the charge of violating territorial jurisdiction. The UGC argued that KSOU can extend its courses in Karnataka, and not beyond, and also objected to technical courses.

The UGC took the decision after recommendations made by an Expert Committee which had earlier visited the university.