FDDI degree row: Sitharaman says IGNOU to be roped in again

Amid concerns over validity of degrees awarded to students of Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said IGNOU is being again roped in for the new academic session.
The modalities for the students from the last three academic sessions -- between 2012 and 2014, are being worked out by the Commerce and HRD ministries.
The FDDI comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is considered a premier institution for leather products, footwear, fashion, design and retail.
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) used to grant degrees for all courses at the Institute, but it discontinued the same in 2012 academic session when as many as 1,250 students were enrolled for various graduate and post-graduate programmes there.

The FDDI roped in Mewar University of Rajasthan to offer degree programmes from academic session 2012. However the UGC, in September 2014, raised questions against the MoU between FDDI and Mewar University for grant of degree to FDDI students registered for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 in light of the AICTE's non-recognition of these degrees.
Amid concerns being raised by students and their parents, Sitharaman, the Minister for Commerce and Industry, has said the issue is being sorted out with cooperation from Minister of Human Resources and Development Smriti Irani.

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

She said the tie-up with IGNOU is for the new academic year and said that the two ministries are working together to resolve the issues related to other affected students.
"Once details are worked out regarding those affected students, (I) will inform," she said replying to various messages posted on Twitter for her regarding the uncertainties being faced by the old students.
The affected students are mainly those who took admissions between 2012 and 2014, as during those years the institute had tied up with Mewar University for degrees.
On July 31, Sitharaman in a written reply to the Lok Sabha had said that the government is making best efforts to get the matter resolved through consultations with UGC, IGNOU, FDDI and the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

The FDDI was offering stand alone Diplomas to the students till 2007. In 2010, FDDI converted all its post-graduate and under-graduate professional diploma programmes in specialised field of Retail, Footwear, Fashion, and Leather Goods & Accessories Design into M.Sc. And B.Sc.
The degrees were being granted in collaboration with IGNOU to enable FDDI students to acquire a UGC-recognised degree along with professional and technical skills.
IGNOU discontinued these programmes in 2012 and requests for renewal of MOU of IGNOU with FDDI did not fructify, Sitharaman had informed Lok Sabha.