Sri Lankan Doctorates for sale in India

Vasudeva Sharma was shocked when two men walked into his office with an offer last week. They placed on his desk an application that would fetch him an honorary doctorate from a Sri Lankan university.

“They told me I had to pay $3,500 (`2.13 lakh) to get an honorary doctorate for my social work,” said Sharma (48), executive director, Child Rights Trust.

The men identified themselves as Suresh and Ananth, and said they represented the Open International University of Complementary Medicines (OIUCM) in Colombo.

As it turns out, scores of people have received not just honorary doctorates, but are also practising as doctors with OIUCM degrees in homeopathy, acupuncture, ayurveda and naturopathy.

The university’s website, which contains many false claims, states its mandate is to popularise alternative medicine.

In India, OIUCM offers courses through 11 dubious institutions, one of which is located in Bangalore and another in Mumbai, the rest being in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Its courses are offered in 12 other countries, including the United States, China, Australia and Pakistan.

“They said I had been referred for an honorary doctorate. When I asked them who had referred me, they said a team of researchers had assessed my work. They tried to lure me with the possibilities of having a ‘Dr’ prefix to my name,” Sharma said.

He was not the only one they approached. Mathews Philip, executive director of the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), was also “shortlisted” for a doctorate that would cost him `3 lakh. “I refused outright and threw them out of my office. I knew it was a fraud,” he said.

PhD in Two Months
Posing as a student looking for a PhD, an Express reporter approached the National Institute of Alternative Medicine Systems in Shivajinagar. The institute is affiliated to OIUCM.

“The fee is `50,000 and it is negotiable. You can get a PhD certificate in one month. If you wish to go in depth, you’ll get a certificate in two months, with a seal from OIUCM,” said Dr A R Samiullah, the institute’s president.

He claimed the degree was recognised internationally and many students were pursuing OIUCM courses. Interestingly, the institute offers courses from the Karnataka State Open University as well.

Not Registered
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Delhi informed Express OIUCM was not registered with the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka. Even Dr N J Nonis, registrar of the Sri Lanka Medical Council, said OIUCM and its degrees were not recognised.

Dr Prashanth Shetty, principal of SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences in Ujire, said he had heard about OIUCM and its activities in India. “It is a fake university. They provide MD degrees in naturopathy and acupuncture in three to six days,” he said. “I hope the law takes its course.” He was concerned about the quacks practising on the basis of such MDs.

Only 16 legitimate institutes in the country offer naturopathy and yoga courses. “No such thing as an alternative medicine course exists. Only those institutes affiliated to the RGUHS are recognised,” he said.

Vijaykumar Gogi, director of the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), promised action. “Educational institutions do not come under our purview, but I will raise this with those concerned. We have already proposed stringent action against those practising without registering with the Karnataka Unani and Ayush Practitioners’ Board,” he said.

Dr Gurujis
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received an honorary doctorate of philosophy in holistic medicine from the OIUCM in 2006. In 2010, godman Swami Nityananda also received an honorary doctorate from this dubious university. The OIUCM falsely claims recognition from the WHO and the United Nations.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express

T.Y. Lama S. Gangchen Tulku Rinpoche
Vice Chancellor
The Open International University, Colombo
SRI LANKA !
  


...and this is how they mislead people using www

UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

Telephone: 695301,695302                                                                        
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Date: 9  June, 1991

The Open International University is the only International Institution is Sri Lanka which is not financed by the State, it is outside the jurisdiction of the University Grants Commission but, nevertheless, the teaching which it offers provides a significant contribution to the aims of the Government. ......

Therefore, in accordance with the wide-reaching educational policy of Sri Lanka, The Open International University holds graduate and post-graduate courses and issues graduate and post-graduate degrees.

Yours faithfully,


Prof. A.P.R Aluwihare
Chairman (UGC SL)

The Art of Living may return the honorary doctorate conferred on its founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to the Open International University for Complementary Medicines (OIUCM) in Sri Lanka, after Express reported that the university does not have any statutory recognition.

“The (Express) article came as a surprise to us. We received a message that they wanted to confer a doctorate on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Sri Sri did not even go himself to receive the doctorate although the First Lady of Sri Lanka did the honours at the event. We are considering returning the doctorate,” read a statement issued by the Art of Living on Wednesday.

The spiritual leader was awarded a doctorate in holistic medicine by OIUCM in 2006. On Tuesday, Express reported that doctorates and degrees of this university were being sold through agents and other dubitable institutions. (Indian Express)
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