Study at KSOU, get MBA certificate from US varsity

MYSORE: In a first, Karnataka state Open University (KSOU) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a US varsity to offer MBA course. Though KSOU has collaborated with 60 institutions across India, the agreement with US-based Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, Virginia, is the first with a foreign varsity. The course begins next academic year.KSOU V-C K SRangappa said the agreement assumes significance as there are plans to initiatemeasures to adopt Foreign Varsity Bill 2010. A joint board of studies has beenformed to design curriculum and decide admission prerequisites. The strategicalliance of MBA programme will be optional for students and the academicdelivery of VCU will be online. However, evaluation will be done at KSOU, butcertificate will be issued by VCU.According to Rangappa, there hasbeen a steady increase in enrolment in 15 years of KSOU-- from 20,000 to 1.5lakh. Every year, over 1.5 lakh students fly to foreign countries for educationand over 10 billion dollars is spent on their studies annually. "Thispartnership aims to provide students in India an international level qualityeducation," he said.The association will help the varsity enterglobal market and avail benefits of technology transfer besides ensuring growthin terms of enrolment, Rangappa said, adding he would visit VCU inFebruary.On the occasion, VCU dean Edward Grier said he would lookforward for robust beginning of the programme. He later signed the agreement.Grier was accompanied by Van R Wood, head of marketing, VCU.