Mangaluru: Recent data reveals a significant closure of colleges affiliated with Mangalore University. Over the past five years, 24 private colleges have ceased operations under this university. This includes the renowned Moegling Institute of German Language, Balmatta, Mangaluru. Although it ceased operations for three years, it has recently reopened and now operates under the affiliation of Goethe-Institut Bengaluru.
The College Development Council of Mangalore University has identified the primary reasons for these shutdowns. V Ravindrachary, the director of the College Development Council, shared that poor admissions rates are the leading cause. He commented, “Post Covid-19, these recently inaugurated colleges struggled with garnering sufficient admissions, which eventually led the management to make the tough decision of closing them.”
In addition to this, the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 played a role. It introduced a four-year duration for undergraduate courses, replacing the earlier three-year format. This shift led to some confusion amongst prospective students and parents, thereby impacting admissions. Ravindrachary also highlighted that several colleges that didn’t settle their affiliation and admission fees for consecutive years are now automatically considered closed in the University’s records.
Furthermore, some colleges have undergone changes due to management conflicts. “There have been instances of colleges merging or attempting to merge due to these issues. Also, few colleges originally managed by state universities or those considered ‘deemed’ universities have transitioned to their parent universities,” added Ravindrachary. A veteran professor from Mangalore University also shed light on the closure of colleges owing to the inability to uphold standards in teaching and administration.
The Moegling Institute of German Language, which has been offering German language certificate courses since 1978, is one notable example of such closures. It had to shut its doors between 2020 to 2023, primarily because of the pandemic. However, Rev HM Watson, principal of Karnataka Theological College (KTC), Mangaluru, shared optimistic news regarding its reopening. He remarked, “The institute, formerly affiliated with Mangalore University, is now recognized globally for its German language courses through its new affiliation with Goethe-Institut Bengaluru.”