IP University cancels course

The country may be reeling under the effect of a destructive earthquake in Sikkim but disaster management, it seems, is still not high on our agenda. Mallica Joshi reports.

The country may be reeling under the effect of a destructive earthquake in Sikkim but disaster management, it seems, is still not high on our agenda.

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The Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University offers a part-time, weekend MBA programme in disaster management for government sponsored applicants, but the course will not be conducted this time around due to the lack of applications.

While the university offers 60 seats in the programme, it was able to attract only six applications for the 2011-2013 academic session. According to the university authorities, the course has seen a lukewarm response from the time of its inception five years back. "Around two years back as well, we had to cancel the course as there were very few applicants. It has happened again this year," said Nalini Ranjan, spokesperson, IP University.

According to a paramilitary officer, who had applied for the course but doesn't want to be named, the reason for the low turnout was the lack of awareness about the course.

"No one knows that such a course is available as the university does not publicise it at all. This year they took out only one advertisement which was very easy to miss. If they were not getting applications, they should have sent letters to the offices from where they usually get their applicants, as it is a very important course," he said.

In last year's batch, there were 50 applicants. Most of the applicants come from the paramilitary forces and the Delhi Police.

"We extended the dates of application but were able to get only six applicants. We can't run a course with such a small number of students. We had mentioned it in out prospectus that the course will be cancelled unless we get a minimum number of applicants. We are refunding all application money," said Ranjan.