Non-existent foreign university running fake study centre: UGC

University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday said a non-existent foreign university is operating a fake study centre in the capital. It urged authorities to take immediate action to close down any such centres. 

UGC in a press release said an organisation named Lincoln's Higher Education and Management is operating in Dhaka to admit students to the non-existent university "American Independent University, California, USA".

A website (aiuedu.org) has been opened in the name of the non-existent university, and notification of student admission was issued, which has come to UGC's notice, the release said.

"The UGC has verified and found that the so-called American Independent University in California does not exist," it added.

UGC said a review of the website shows that it was opened in 2014 from Bangladesh's Naogaon. Analysis of the university's picture used on the website shows that it was taken from University of Cambridge's website.

UGC Member Prof Biswajit Chanda said according to Private Universities Act 2010, it is illegal to run a study centre of even a legitimate foreign university without permission.

"And operating a branch campus or study centre of a non-existent foreign university is a gross violation of the law," he added.

He requested the authorities concerned to take immediate action to close down the fake centre. He advised students to be cautious about enrolling in such educational institutions.

Contacted over phone, Mohammad Surjo Miah, management staff of Lincoln's Higher Education and Management, refused to comment and did not provide phone number of their chairperson Mohammad Selim Bhuiyan.