Siliguri, June 12: The MBA course run by North Bengal University from its Nurul Hasan Centre for Management Studies has been recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Niloy Biswas, the director-in-charge of the centre, said the much-awaited nod from the apex advisory body in technical education came on Friday. “We received a formal letter on that day which said our courses have been duly recognised by the AICTE,” Biswas said.

The MBA course was started in the varsity in 2003. “It is not mandatory for MBA courses run by a university to be recognised by the AICTE,” said vice-chancellor P.K. Saha. “But we wanted the recognition so that the quality of our education was assessed and a fair picture of where we stand could be obtained.”

Biswas said the AICTE recognition would go a long way in lending credibility to the varsity’s MBA courses. “It is a nationally and globally accepted standard,” the director-in-charge said. “The recognition will help us improve our standards and also scout for funds for research.”

The varsity had applied for the AICTE recognition in November last year following which a three-member team from the council visited the campus for inspection in April this year.

“They assessed us according to several parameters, including infrastructure, placement of students, grooming and future plans,” Biswas said.

Dilip Sarkar, the controller of examination of the university, said plans are afoot to start a course in MBA with specialisation in tourism. “The course has been designed keeping in mind the tourism sector of the region,” said Sarkar.

The centre is also planning to introduce part-time MBA courses in the evening for working people. “It will be a three-year course unlike our full-time day courses, which are for two years,” Biswas said.

Students applying for the MBA course are selected through an admission test.