It's a lose-lose situation for the engineering students of the University of Pune (UoP), who have been forced to choose between CAT (Common Admission Test for MBA) or the semester exam.

The new time-table of the university engineering examination clashes with the CAT dates. While CAT will be conducted from November 29 to December 7, the semester exams begin from November 26 and will conclude on December 10, leaving not much choice for the students.

Sanjeev More, student, Army Institute of Technology (AIT) said, “While others can still console themselves, the fourth year students might lose one year if they miss on the CAT exam this time, which they will be forced to. In fact, I have to go to Mumbai to appear for the test and now I cannot because I have my elective paper on that day.”

Explaining the situation, Arun Adsool, vice-chanellor, said the decision on the dates and conduct of exams is taken by the Board of Examination (BOE), which comprises deans of various colleges under the university.

“I understand that the problem is a genuine one and we will consider it during the meeting today. We will try to reach to an amicable conclusion, but the chances of changes are dim. Owing to the swine flu scare, the colleges were closed and thus we are not completing the required attendance before November 24, and hence cannot pre-pone the exam. Postponing it further is again not possible because it will have a dominos effect as the result, classes and other exams will also get delayed. Even if we give a long break we will fail to declare our results in time — 45 days from the beginning of the exam.”

... contd.