Students at the Universal Business School (UBS) in Karjat, Mumbai, who are pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree, are currently in a difficult situation. Despite putting a lot of time and money into their study, they are having problems with the legitimacy and equivalent of their degree. Concerns concerning the approval and accreditation of the course offered by UBS that is linked with a foreign university have been raised as a result of this issue, which has led a number of students to submit complaints with the appropriate authorities. Let’s investigate this issue further and consider what it means for these pupils.

Students’ Situation at Universal Business School

Students are shocked to learn that their degree’s equivalency is being questioned after paying more than 18 lakhs ($24,000) for a three-year BBA programme at Universal Business School. After changing its name to Universal AI University recently, UBS, which launched its BBA programme in affiliation with a UK-based college in 2013, was formerly known as UBS. The issues relating to the authenticity and recognition of the degree gained by its graduates have not been addressed by this rebranding, nevertheless.

Initial inquiries and complaints

On April 18, a number of students formalised their grievance with the Panvel office of the joint director of higher education. An initial investigation was then carried out to determine the veracity of their worries. The inquiry’s interim report makes the case that a more thorough probe is necessary to address the issues the students cited. They specifically query whether UBS had authorization from any organisation before offering this course associated with a foreign university.

They have also complained to the Karjat police and Superintendent of Police (SP) Raigad, requesting that they fully look into the situation. SP Somnath Gharge has called a meeting with the institute’s office holders and students to further explore the problem. Despite the fact that SP Gharge recognises the significance of the higher education director’s decision in this instance, the complaint has been referred to the relevant department for review to see if any criminal charges, such as forgery, should be pursued.

Sushrut Hate, a 2019 graduate who is now studying for the UPSC test, was shocked to learn lately that his BBA degree is not accepted for positions in the Indian civil service. 

“I invested over ₹15 lakh in this program, only to find out that it holds no value for the career path I aspired to pursue,” he expressed with shock.

The higher education department has also received a complaint from 2020 graduate Akhil Parmar, who claims, “I spent more than ₹18 lakhs on obtaining this degree, hoping it would open doors to promising job opportunities. It’s disheartening to learn that my investment might go in vain.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Mumbai-based student Vivek Rathod, who made the initial complaint back in 2017. “I successfully cleared the CLAT exam to pursue a career in law, but during the admission process, I was informed that my BBA degree is not considered valid for LLB. It shattered my dreams and left me feeling betrayed,” he explained.

These students have filed complaints against the university, along with others, in an effort to get justice for the time, money, and hopes they spent in their education.

A View from Public Figures

Public figures and organisations have taken notice of the scandal surrounding the BBA degree offered by UBS. Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha state secretary Hrishikesh Joshi has written a letter to higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil pleading with him to step in and stop UBS from offering the BBA course. This shows that stakeholders’ worries about the validity of the degree and its possible effects on students’ future chances are growing.