Course without permission: Institute in Karjat told to repay fees to complainant students

The students, however, are not a relieved lot. “We are demanding equivalency to our degrees and not repayment of fees,” said one of the students, adding that they want justice to time spent pursuing the course. A set of them have already moved the Bombay High Court.

“This order will now help us prove that we were wronged. But without equivalency to our degrees, we cannot move on in our plans of higher education or employment,” told a student, adding that with no valid degree, they are unable to make any higher education or job plans.

The UBS started the BBA/BABM course in the year 2013 with a UK-based university. The department of higher and technical education of Maharashtra received the first complaint in 2017 after students came to know of their degree’s invalidity during the admission process for higher education.

In a written response, the institute spokesperson said, “UBS, suo motu, closed the BABM program in September 2022 after UGC notified new regulations i.e., academic collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Education institutions to offer Twinning Programmes, Joint and Dual Degree Program Regulations 2022. The institute has already appealed against the DHE order to Appellant Authority which pertains to the matter 9 years ago in 2014 when the student enrolled. The concerned matter is regulatory policy related matter and is sub-judice.”