FDDI row: IGNOU to be roped in again after Commerce ministry steps in

With an aim to putting an end to the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) degree row, talks were on to collaborate again with IGNOU for awarding degrees to students from the new academic session, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.

"We are working with HRD Ministry on this issue. Signing up with IGNOU for new students," Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted.

For those students facing uncertainties over the validity of their degrees, details were being worked out and in due course information would be shared, the minister said in her tweet earlier this week.

The FDDI, a premier institution under the Commerce Ministry for leather products, footwear, fashion, design and retail, had a tie-up with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for grant of degrees.

However, the alliance was snapped in 2012 academic session after requests for renewal of the MoU between IGNOU with FDDI did not fructify.

Following the quashing of the agreement, FDDI roped in Mewar University of Rajasthan to offer degree programmes from the 2012 academic session.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) in September 2014 questioned the MoU between FDDI and Mewar University for grant of degree to FDDI students registered for 2012, 2013 and 2014 in view of non-recognition of these degree by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Those students who took admission during the years the institute had an alliance with Mewar University for degrees were affected by the AICTE decision.