What are Fake Universities? how can i check?

WHAT ARE FAKE UNIVERSITIES? HOW CAN I CHECK?

Fake universities are institutions that seem to be legitimate universities but are not accredited or recognised by the government. These colleges frequently award degrees that are not recognised by employers or other universities. 

As we all know, there are numerous universities in India that are fraudulent universities or colleges. The major objective of these fraudulent colleges is to entice students by promising them big incomes and employment possibilities after they have completed their courses there. They are not affiliated with any university or college, nor are they registered with the UGC or AICTE. 

How to check if university is fake or not

These are the six steps to consider when determining a university's or college's genuineness.

1.  Check License and Approval 

The first step in determining the legality of any university is to ensure that it has a valid licence. You can do so by visiting their official website or by contacting them directly using the email or phone number mentioned on their website. If they do not react to your inquiries within 24 hours, there may be something wrong with them! 

They will also provide information about their institution's licencing status so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not you wish to pursue further education at this particular institution (or not). 

1. Check official Website

• Find the university's official webpage. 
• Observe the logo. 
• Check the company's website to see whether it lists a phone number and email address. 
• Verify if it is HTTPS-secured and safe to use. 

If you can't locate any information regarding their campus or place of business, that is a red flag that you might be dealing with a con. There are colleges that are only online, thus they may not have a campus address, but they still need to have some corporate contact information.

1. Check University Affiliation 

The next step is to determine if the university is recognised by the UGC (Central Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe), and if it is associated with any other universities. the MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development), the AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education), and the MCI (Medical Council of India). 

1.  Check Accreditation Status 

Accreditation is a quality assurance process. It entails assessing and inspecting educational, training, and research institutions to ensure that they satisfy the criteria set by their institution or programme. Accreditation can be done by an external agency (such as the Council on Higher Education) or by an institutional authority or group conducting a self-assessment. 

1. Check Ranking of University or College 

Rankings are significant, but they should not be the sole factor taken into account. A university with a high national ranking may be a good fit for you, but that does not guarantee that the faculty is top-notch or that the students are receiving a quality education. Also, this may apply to colleges and universities in other nations. 

1. Check Campus Location of University or College 

• Check the University or College's Campus Location 
• Find the university's location on Google Maps and Street View. 
• Check the university's location using Google Earth and Satellite View. Source

Disadvantages of getting admission in Fake Universities

Fake universities are not recognised as legitimate by the state or any other educational organisation. They do not provide legitimate degrees or certifications and are not acknowledged as official institutes of higher learning. The drawbacks of attending a fake university are numerous which includes: 

• Employers and other colleges do not accept degrees from fake institutions. This may make it challenging to get a job or change universities.
• Students who attend fake universities could also not get a good education. 
• These institutions frequently lack the staff members and resources needed to give students a challenging educational experience.
• Credits acquired at a fictitious university might not be transferable to another institution.
• It's possible that students won't qualify for financial help or scholarships.
• Students might not be able to continue their studies at an authorised institution.

Before enrolling in a programme, it is crucial to check the accreditation standing of any institution. Students should stay away from the fake universities on the list kept up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India. Source