VTU Internship App Uncovers Widespread Fraud Among Karnataka Engineering Students
In a startling revelation, the internship tracking application used by Karnataka's Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has exposed a significant pattern of fraudulent submissions by engineering students across the state. The mandatory internship program, which requires students to complete practical training, has been compromised by numerous students listing non-existent or inappropriate establishments as their internship providers.
Scale of the Issue and Registration Numbers
According to official data, approximately 82,000 engineering students from VTU have registered with around 14,000 companies for internships scheduled to commence from February 2. However, a thorough location verification process conducted by the university in Belagavi has revealed that many of these so-called companies are either completely fictitious or operate in sectors entirely unrelated to engineering disciplines.
Shocking Examples of Fraudulent Submissions
University officials have discovered particularly egregious cases where students attempted to pass off various establishments as legitimate internship providers. One student listed a local gym as their internship company, while another claimed to be interning at a bar. In a particularly creative attempt, a student registered with a technology company based in Denmark, but the actual location turned out to be a beauty salon in Bengaluru operating under the same name.
"We found that the location of an internship was a gym, another one was a bar, a technology company in Denmark, but in the same name, there was a salon in Bengaluru where the student had enrolled," a VTU official disclosed. "In one case, the GPS location showed us an isolated vacant land, and there was no company whatsoever."
University Response and Consequences
The university has announced strict measures to address this widespread deception. VTU officials have stated they will blacklist all fraudulent companies identified through their verification process. Additionally, students found submitting false information will be summoned to rectify their submissions and may face disciplinary action in the future.
"We are going to blacklist the companies as well as summon students to rectify their mistakes," the official explained. "We are not initiating action now but letting them off with warnings. But in future, we will initiate action against repeat offenders."
University Leadership's Stance on Academic Integrity
VTU Vice-Chancellor S Vidyashankar issued a strong statement emphasizing the importance of academic honesty. "If students bring fake certificates from some companies and submit them to VTU, it will not work. We will verify everything thoroughly," Vidyashankar declared. "Students must demonstrate their smartness through genuine work and learning, not through attempts at fraud."
Internship Requirements and Program Structure
The mandatory internship program affects more than 85,000 qualified engineering students under VTU's jurisdiction. Students are required to complete a six-month internship during their seventh and eighth semesters, with nine academic credits allocated for successful completion. The university has established a dedicated portal where legitimate companies can register to offer internship opportunities to students.
Additional Concerns About the Internship Ecosystem
Beyond the fraud issues, the internship program faces additional challenges. While VTU mandates that companies must pay students for their internship work, some students have reported being asked for money by companies instead. One engineering student revealed, "I have been asked to pay Rs 40,000 for an internship opportunity. There's a huge demand from students but limited supply from genuine companies. Many fraudulent entities have collected our details from the portal and are approaching us for payments."
This situation highlights the broader challenges facing engineering education in Karnataka, where students feel pressured to secure internships by any means necessary, sometimes resorting to unethical practices that undermine the educational value of these practical training opportunities.
