India Overrules EIILM Varsity's Mauritius Campus Degrees

In its communication to one Mauritian student of EIILM, UGC on October 25 said it has not "granted any permission to EIILM University, Sikkim (private university) to establish off-shore campus in Mauritius."

N Bodha of Monuvement Socialiste Militant, who raised the issue of recognition to EIILM in 2007 as the leader of opposition, says, "It is a scandal of huge proportions. Nearly 50 students of the first batch who passed out last year are suffering. The entire set of communication between UGC and Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) of Mauritius was not placed before the board that gave EIILM the permission to set up the campus there." He says with UGC making it clear that degree given by EIILM is not recognized would affect the future of students, who want to go to Europe for further studies. He says Sunil Jeetah, CEO of Mauritius campus, is brother of tertiary education minister Rajeshwar Jeetah.

Documents with TOI show that when the EIILM's Mauritius campus was being considered in 2007, TEC did ask UGC about the status of EIILM. UGC stated that the institute was "not included in the list of Universities being maintained under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956".

In 2007, EIILM's Indian campus, though a state university since 2006, had not even approached UGC for recognition but had gone ahead with setting up a campus in Mauritius. TEC gave it recognition in May, 2007. In October, UGC sent an elaborate point-wise reply to TEC stating that all varsities need to be registered and recognized by it. It also said no private university can set up a campus abroad without being in existence for more than five years and even then it would need the approval of state government and UGC.

What is ironical that EIILM sought UGC recognition in 2008 and when its expert team asked if it has off-shore campus, it replied in the negative. Recognition to Sikkim campus was granted in May, 2008, whereas EIILM's Mauritius campus was already functional.

Sunil Jeetah, CEO of EIILM's Mauritius campus, defends the recognition granted to the institute. "There is no confusion. The problem is political. Institute is being attacked because my brother is education minister. I am just the manager of the institute. All I know is that government of Mauritius followed a process and gave clearance. It is also wrong that degree of students is not getting recognized abroad." Praveen Mohadeb, executive director of TEC that played a crucial role in giving recognition, dismisses questions about what UGC says about EIILM's Mauritius campus and its failure to fulfill Indian laws.

Instead he told TOI, "For the registration of EIILM University Mauritius Branch Campus, TEC has applied the laws of the land in Mauritius. As per our law, an institution setting up a branch campus in Mauritius must be recognized in its home country. EIILM University is recognized by virtue of being set up by a specific Act of Parliament - Sikkim Government Legislature Act No 4 of 2006, Government of Sikkim, India. We were also informed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC - an autonomous institution of the UGC) that qualifications obtained by a state university are recognized at national level in India."