Mumbai University allows colleges to rename BMS programme as BCom: Reports

NEW DELHI: The University of Mumbai has allowed its affiliated colleges to change the nomenclature of the Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) programme to Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), as per various media reports. The colleges who want to keep the old name will have to obtain an approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) prior to running the course.

The decision has been taken after the recommendation of the board of deans and approval from the academic and management councils of the university, the reports said. Several colleges reportedly requested MU to allow the change in the nomenclature of professional courses such as BMS, BBA, and BCA to avoid coming under the umbrella of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Earlier, the university had asked all affiliated colleges and recognized institutes to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from it for starting fresh BBA, BMS, and BCA courses from the academic year 2024-25. “It is necessary to submit the proposal to the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and it is also mandatory to submit the Undertaking attached to the said letter to the University,” it stated.

MU asked the principals of all government, non-government, aided, unaided, permanent unaided postgraduate degrees, degree colleges and directors of institutions affiliated to the university to submit the details regarding the fulfillment of the necessary criteria as per AICTE standards to the university.

In January this year, AICTE announced its decision to regulate colleges and universities offering undergraduate programmes in management and computer applications -- BBA, BCA, and BMS programmes -- from the academic session 2024-25. The decision was taken to maintain uniformity and academic standards across these programmes on the lines of postgraduate programmes such as MBA and MCA.