KU 'bends' admission policy for key management programmes, draws flak

Srinagar, Nov 19: The University of Kashmir has literally thrown its own admission policy to winds, for the first time ever, allowing entry of candidates to the key management programme without the mandatory CMAT score.

On November 18, 2024 (Monday), the varsity’s Directorate of Admissions and Competitive Examinations issued admission notification no. 27 (A) of 2024 for Masters in Business Admission offered at the varsity’s South Campus, and its affiliated colleges.

While the said notification mentioned that the “admission to these programmes shall be governed by the Admission Policy and the relevant Statutes governing admissions”, it said the “admission shall be made on academic percentage in the qualifying examination.” The qualifying examination, as per the same admission notification, is “Graduation from any recognized University/Institution with 50% marks for Open Merit and 45% for Reserved Category.”

The notification fixed the date for issuance of online forms as 19-11-2024 and last date for submission of online forms as 20-11-2024, thus keeping just a day in between for the aspirants to complete the formality.

Experts have questioned the University’s motive to admit candidates to the MBA programme without the valid CMAT score, saying “this is unprecedented because admissions to all management institutions in the country are done on the basis of a valid CMAT score.”

Interestingly, the University’s Admission Policy-2024, copy of which is available on its website, clearly mentions that CMAT score shall be the basis for admission programmes offered by the University in its main and satellite campuses, as well as the affiliated colleges. Its 2022-23 admissions were governed by CMAT criteria.

“The Tuesday’s notification not only violates the KU’s own admission policy, but is violative of national norm which says CMAT is mandatory for admission into MBA programmes. It also has far-reaching implications on the University’s  present and future affiliations for programmes falling under AICTE, UCG and NBA,” said a former professor of management studies at KU, wishing anonymity. “Also, it has implications on University’s ranking under NIRF and NAAC, where such entrance examinations and programmes have their own grading score.”

He said the qualifying examination forms the basis for eligibility, not admissions. “To me, it appears that the University, wherever it has relaxed the entrance examination for admissions, is doing some kind of Sunday market admissions to make up for the steep dip in enrollments and paint a rosy picture about the varsity. It is like putting admissions to sale. Unfortunately, it only puts the University in a bad light,” the professor said.

Another management expert opined that allowing entry of candidates without a CMAT score amounts to compromising the benchmark and quality of incoming students. “The National Testing Agency (NTA)  holds the CMAT to evaluate the candidates’ ability in quantitative technique, logical reasoning, language comprehension and general awareness for admission to management courses. This is done with the objective of allowing quality students to enter these programmes,” said another management teacher in a Government Degree College in Srinagar. “In this case, the KU notification is not only shocking but in a way illegal too. You cannot play with institutional reputation like this.”

Sources in the KU said such bending of admission policy cannot be done even by the University Council, the highest decision-making body of the University, let alone the Vice-Chancellor or any other authority of the University.

“The Chancellor of the University should order a probe into all admissions done without the valid entrance test, and ascertain reasons for such brazen violation of the Admission Policy,” they said.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director in the Directorate of Admissions and Competitive Examinations, Prof Farooq Ahmad Mir said the university was authorised to hold its own entrance for the students when the seats remain vacant in the department.

"It is a routine in all the universities. Whenever candidates do not opt for the University and seats remain vacant, the varsity is allowed to provide admission to students without CMAT score. The VC is authorised to hold its own entrance.