SGU’s BBA course finds few takers

But for Vapi’s Rofel College, no other college affiliated to the university in the six districts of South Gujarat offered these courses; self financed or otherwise. Suddenly, the university cleared applications from as many as seven institutions, literally creating a glut.

One of the reasons why the university hurried through clearing proposals is to ease pressure on other streams, especially Commerce which has seen colleges bursting at the seams.

To begin with, some students did harbour apprehensions on whether the BBA courses were equivalent to any other degree programme run by the university. Since the Faculties have okayed the proposal the status will eventually be granted is a fact. And so is a fact that the university could have done it earlier avoiding this uncertainty.

Not that the lack of enthusiasm on the part of students is dogging each of these institutions, but for the one in Navsari there are few takers.

Vice-chancellor Ashwin Kapadia — who once even used his emergency power enjoyed by him under Section 11 (4) of the SGU Act to clear one such proposal — feels colleges failed to advertise properly.

He claims SGU’s BBA course content is much better than other universities for it also incorporates the entire syllabus of DCA. He says it’s a specialised professional course but unfortunately there is lack of awareness among students, because they don’t read enough. The maximum fees of Rs 50,000 for NRI and Management quota seats has become a major deterrent in filling those seats. That’s a maximum amount and could be increased as the course becomes popular, but institutions are asking for that amount right from the word go.

Kapadia says a letter of guidelines will be sent to each of these institutions on administrative and teaching aspects. Details are being worked out; the aim being to separate the course from the college and preferably have a separate college building. The university will also ensure that the BBA graduates be given preference in the MBA programmes run by the university.

Syndicate member Suryakant Shah, who along with other members of his group were staunch opponents of the self-financing courses, compares the courses to a shop. “It’s now running in a loss. No breakeven will be achieved,” he says. Giving permission to so many colleges at one go has created an oversupply in the market, where there are few takers.

Also, about 80 per cent students come from tribal areas, who don’t identify with these courses run in English medium, he claims. When management subjects are the same as those in Commerce graduation, who can the course offer job prospects, he questions.

Moreover, the BBA graduates are absorbed only in organised industries. Not only that no new organised industries are coming up in the region, there is about 20 per cent unemployment even among MBA graduates, he claims. The fees are prohibitive as the university did not make enough attempt to start them in grant-in-aid institutions.

Kapadia says liaison with industries will be increased and hopes there will be rush of students from the next year.