UGC asks National Academy of Event Management and Development to withdraw its courses

The National Academy of Event Management and Development based in Goregaon, Mumbai has been asked by the UGC to withdraw its courses. The academy which has collaborated with Mumbai University’s Garware Institute of Career Education and Development (GICED) now faces the risk of being listed as a fake university.

The National Academy of Event Management and Development (NAEMD) is now under the scanner for offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the different disciplines of Event Management which is not recognized by the UGC under the UGC Act 1956.

The academy has partnered with the GICED to offer its expertise however it also offers its own courses. As per the details mentioned on the website the academy offers full-time bachelors and masters programme along with a diploma in event management.  The website also mentions that the academy is affiliated to the University of Mumbai. As per media reports that the reply to an RTI filed in August 2018 has clearly stated that the academy is not affiliated to the University of Mumbai.

The UGC on May 7 issued a show-cause notice to the academy, however in a letter dated July 9, 2019, it has asked the academy to stop displaying the UG/PG courses in its website and withdraw the collaboration with Garware Institute. The academy also has centres in Jaipur, Delhi, and Ahmedabad.

As per the UGC Regulations in 2017, no university whether central, state, private or deemed is allowed to offer its programmes through franchising arrangements with private coaching institutions even for the purpose of conducting courses through distance mode.

Apart from this as per the UGC regulation 2016, it is prohibited to use certain words. The regulations state that the educational institutions established and controlled by the central government alone may prefix the word ‘Indian/ National Institute’ with their respective names. With regard to this, the academy has also been directed to immediately remove the word ‘National’ form its name.

The UGC has asked the academy to submit a compliance report to the UGC within 14 days from the date of issuing of the letter, failing which the institution will be included in the list of fake universities maintained by the UGC and action will be taken as per the law.

 A letter was also sent by the UGC to the Registrar of Mumbai University, Ajay Deshmukh and the Director (in-charge) of GICED Shivam Garje making it clear that the academy is not recognized by the UGC and that franchising arrangement between NAEMD and GICED is against the rules of the UGC. The UGC has further asked the GICED to submit a compliance report within 14 days.

When questioned about the same both Deshmukh and Garje have stated that they have not received any letter. The Director of GICED, Garje said that they collaborate with the industry experts to offers the programme. He also added that although they use the expertise of NAEMD the classes are conducted by Garware. They have signed MoU’s regarding the same and will respond after receiving the letter.