Online College - India

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Economist, Sep 19, 2016.

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  1. Economist

    Economist New Member

    Recently, I came across an Indian school that calls itself "Online College".

    Does anyone know anything about this school? They claim to offer all kinds of degrees, but the whole set-up seems kind of suspicious.

    Here is their link:

    Online College Admission 2013-14
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    It seems quite sketchy, and the name not only seems like a poor attempt to appeal to English speakers from non-English speakers, it dredges up bad memories from the 1970's.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    For starters, they are offering 10% commission for referring-a-friend. That wouldn't look too good here, except maybe for matchbook-cover schools. This site itself is not a college - if I read things right, it serves as a portal for entry to about 8 universities/colleges. The schools do not appear to be outright frauds - that's something I guess. I did not find any of the names on the UGC Fake Universities page. I checked the UGC approval records for most of the schools and on some, the UGC (University Grants Commission) appears to still be awaiting reports, info etc. Mostly private universities, one State, if I remember correctly. You can see the list of universities on the admissions page.

    If I were an Indian student, I would want to thoroughly check for myself any school I was interested in attending. I can't see how applying through such a portal (instead of directly) would benefit a prospective student in any way.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 19, 2016
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I still can't. Maybe for these specific schools, one has to apply through this portal. It looks to me like the portal operator gets commission on each student, so the schools likely have some kind of contract with the operator, to generate so many admissions. Maybe it's an exclusive deal.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2016
  5. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    My! That site is a beaut!
     
  6. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Certainly is. Vision and Mission Cell, Faculties Cell, Placement and Internship Cell. Too much talk of cells, for my liking. It's making me uncomfortable and ...apprehensive. :shock:
    J.
     
  7. msganti

    msganti Active Member

    I don't see any approvals by UGC. UGC is clear on schools (even legitimate ones) can not offer BTech, MTech & PhD through distance education. Some (legitimate) schools are allowed to offer external PhD or other research degrees, but there is a legitimate path for it.
    This school - obviously, is a fake.
     
  8. Economist

    Economist New Member

    Thanks for the feedback. Everyone should be aware of such scams.
     
  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Msganti, I acknowledge your expertise and thank you for your clear, unequivocal statement concerning degrees that cannot be offered by Distance Education.
    You say you didn't see any approvals by UGC. I checked the site's schools (all but the last).

    Shobhit University
    The Global Open University
    Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
    Vivekanand University
    RKDF University
    V2S2 College

    None of the schools listed were on the UGC "Fake Universities" Page. Well, that's not conclusive of course, but it led me to check further. I was able to find a UGC entry for every university on the list, except for the last, V2S2, which I didn't check. Some had notes about awaiting info etc. Is their nothing in these entries, to your experienced eye, that could indicate UGC approval?

    I'm not trying to defend the indefensible here. The site (I don't believe it's an actual school) is obviously trying to pull a fast one and sell stuff that doesn't legitimately exist - and thanks for the good advice. What I'm asking is: are the schools named herein definitely fakes, unrecognized by UGC?

    J.
     
  10. TomE

    TomE New Member

    Many of the links simply redirect to the top of the page and I am hard-pressed to find anything that is really specific (names of faculty, actual courses, degree requirements) which are a few red flags. That being said, I have "navigated" some truly atrocious websites for mid-sized, public brick and mortar , American universities. Although these weren't the most esteemed institutions, I still would have expected much more from their barely functioning websites. Moral of the story, not all "bad" university websites are equal...?
     
  11. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Its near identical twin is called Himalayan University www himalayanuniversity dot com

    Himalayan U is accredited by IAO, by the way.
     
  12. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    What the devil is IAO?
     
  13. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Oh, sorry about that. IAO, the International Accreditation Organization. Has accredited Bircham International University, West Coast University Panama, Pebble Hills University, Ballsbridge University, Axact universities like Midtown University and Kinsale University, Newton Hills University, Eton University, to mention but a few. And of course, IAO is/was the accreditor of Florida University USA, www fuusa-floridauniversityusa com
     
  14. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Ah, thanks!
     
  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    We've had a few posts about IAO here in the mill-column, because, as mbwa shenzi points out, it has "accredited" so many "universities." Here's mine from a month ago - Aug 19, 2016, when we were discussing an apparent Axact clone, Waxen University - home of the Mme. Tussaud library? :smile:

    Yes - I'm sure Himalayan University DOT COM is a bogus site, but I'd still like to know if the schools listed on "Online College" have any legitimacy. I thought they might, because they all have listings on the UGC site. Of
    course "Open College" itself is selling the impossible dream, but I'd still like to know if these schools are real - not if they're good, just real. I'm asking about these schools:

    Shobhit University
    The Global Open University
    Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
    Vivekanand University
    RKDF University
    V2S2 College


    P.S. Glad to know IAO is raking in the dough, afloat in a tub of rupees. Maybe I can get someone in Pakistan to sell me some shares. :laugh:
     
  16. msganti

    msganti Active Member

    Thanks for the nice words J.

    I am not sure about RKDF and V2S2, but the rest seem to be UGC approved.
     
  17. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Thanks, Msganti! I really thought I was losing it! So - they are real, the UGC says so. I don't need them to be good -- just real. :smile:
    By the way - RKDF University is UGC approved - Private University, Madhya Pradesh State - here: http://www.ugc.ac.in/privateuniversitylist.aspx?id=20&Unitype=3

    Thanks for your help!

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 21, 2016
  18. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Last one - couldn't (yet) find a UGC approval for V2S2 College. The acronym V2S2 stands for "Vigyan Vidyapeeth Shodh Sansthan." A Sansthan appears to be a Sanskrit School. I'll find out yet....

    J.
     
  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    "Shodh" is of Sanskrit origin and stands for research / discovery. Two more words to go - I'll crack this, before I'm done... :smile: At least I'm learning some interesting stuff.

    J.
     
  20. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Thought I'd found it but no. Found a school in Madhya Pradesh. The school I want (V2S2) is in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Still looking. Hard work and the pay is the pits. :sad:

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 21, 2016

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