Pros and Cons of Non-AICTE Approved MBA Courses
AICTE or All India Council for Technical Education is a central body that works along with the University Grants Commission, or the UGC, which approves various technical courses that are offered by different colleges and universities. The AICTE covers programmes of technical education such a Technology, Architecture, Applied Arts and Craft, training and research in Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, etc. most colleges that offer MBA courses are usually approved by both AICTE and UGC.
IMPORTANCE OF AICTE APPROVAL
The most important benefit of being a student of an AICTE approved course is that it helps in further studies in India as well as betters the candidate’s job opportunity within and outside the country. Being a student of an AICTE approved MBA programme helps the student get a better opportunity for a government job in the public sector in India. Most jobs in India for people with an MBA degree require the course to be approved by a recognised body. Therefore, an MBA course that is approved by AICTE provides for better job opportunities for students in both the public and the private sector in India.
IS AN AICTE APPROVAL MANDATORY FOR MBA COURSES?
As per the judgement of the Supreme Court of India in April, 2013, an AICTE approval is not a requisite for any college or university to provide an MBA course to its students. The Supreme Court considers the UGC as the only body whose approval is necessary for any college to offer MBA courses to its students. These colleges that do not have an AICTE affiliation are only required to be affiliated and approved by a university.
Although colleges that do not have an AICTE approval are operable in India as long as they have an affiliation to a university and are approved by the UGC, they do not come without their own pros and cons. Unfortunately, the cons far outweigh the pros in case of non-AICTE approved MBA courses. In this article, we have listed down the various pros and cons there are to studying in an MBA programme that is not approved by the AICTE.
PROS:
- An AICTE approval is necessary for colleges that offer technical courses. Since an MBA is not a technical course, an AICTE approval is not a necessity; non AICTE courses can operate freely in India.
- If you are aiming to get admission into a private MBA college, then an AICTE approval is not necessary. The college only requires an approval from the university that they are affiliated to.
- Any college, irrespective of whether it is approved by AICTE or not, can offer an MBA course in India as long as they are approved by the UGC. The Supreme Court of India considers the UGC as the apex body and thus deems its approval as mandatory. Therefore, it is possible to get an MBA degree even if the MBA course your college offers is non AICTE approved, as long as it is UGC approved.
CONS:
- Although an AICTE approval is not a requisite demand for an MBA course, most hiring companies in India prefer a candidate who has studied an AICTE approved MBA course. Therefore, if your MBA course is not AICTE approved, then you may face difficulties in the job sector.
- AICTE is one of the most important apex bodies in India. An MBA course that is unapproved by the AICTE may be considered an invalid or unapproved course, making it difficult to get recognition in academics or in the work sector.
- Higher studies in India become very difficult if your MBA course is not AICTE approved.
- Since an AICTE approval is not necessary for an MBA course in India, you will get a degree no matter whether your course is AICTE approved or not. However, your degree will not hold much value and will not really affect your career in a positive manner.
- A degree for a non AICTE approved MBA course is considered invalid for government jobs in the public sector in India. While you may stand a chance to get a job in the private sector, a candidate from an AICTE approved course will always be given more preference over you.