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Indian Consulate comes to the rescue of students

The Indian Consulate has stepped in to address the issue of an educational institute in Dubai that allegedly misappropriated the tuition fees of students.

Those studentshad enrolled inthe institute's distance education programmes. Students who were enrolled at the Campus Educational Institute were in a fix when after completing degree programmes from the centre — registered as the distance education arm of the University of Madras — were denied certificates.

It is alleged that the owner of the Institute failed to pay around Dh300,000 (Rs 30 lakh) to the university as its status of a distance education centre due to which students’ results and certificates were held back. More than 200 students could be affected according to those enrolled at the centre.

In a statement to Khaleej Times, the Indian Consulate in Dubai said it had received complaints against the Campus Educational Institute which were brought to the notice of the University of Madras. “The students had alleged that the said educational institution had collected fees from them and failed to deposit the amount with the University resulting in their marksheets/certificates being withheld,” said the statement. The Consulate said it would assist the affected students. Students have been asked to contact the consulate and mail their enrollment papers to education@cgidubai.com by August 9, which would then be sent to the University for redressal.

Several students had earlier approached Khaleej Times with their complaints. One student who had enrolled for a University of Madras MBA at the institute feared that the institute had taken the students for a ride. “The institute took the fee from us but has not paid the university,” he said. “So the university is not releasing our marksheets and degree certificates.”

According to the rules laid down by the emirates education authority, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, training institutes are not allowed to offer university level or credited programmes and collaborate or affiliate themselves with universities in other countries. As reported by Khaleej Times earlier, many centres were found to be flouting the rules.

Despite the regulation, the institute continued to provide the programmes and was still registered as a distance education arm of the university. The University of Madras was contacted but has not responded on the matter as well as why they were advertising the centre on their website despite the regulations.

Another student who wishes to remain anonymous paid Dh15,500 for his two-year course which began in 2008 and is still waiting for his degree. “We received calls from the university stating that the matter would be solved in August,” he said.

The Consulate said it is corresponding with the university to ascertain the facts. “There appears to be a prima-facie disconnect between the University and the Dubai based educational institute in matters of transfer to fund and proper accounting of registration of students. “The owner of the institute was also contacted and advised to resolve the matter amicably without detriment to the students,” the statement said.

The owner of the institute was contacted, but was not available for comment. On Monday, the vice chancellor of the university told an Indian newspaper that the scam was revealed when a student whose result was withheld produced a fee receipt issued by the Dubai centre. — afshan@khaleejtimes.com

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