Colleges need fresh nod for distance courses: UGC

New Delhi: University Grants Commission has directed all educational institutions offering distance learning courses will now need to seek fresh approval. The As per the directive, minimum standards of instructions have been laid down hence the institutes offering distance learning courses, need to take fresh approval under the newly notified norms.

UGC (open and distance learning) regulations, 2017, needs to be complied in order to run the distance programmes which have been notified recently.

Higher educational institutions approved for 2017-18 have been permitted to offer approved open and distance learning programs for the academic year 2017-18. These institutes will be required to apply afresh in the prescribed format as per the UGC regulations 2017 for consideration. The applications for recognising new educational institutes and starting new programmes is expected to be invited shortly as per UGC regulations.

Sources stated that under the new regulations, students will also be allowed to take up to 20 percent of the total courses being offered in a particular programme in a semester through the online learning courses/ massive open online courses as per UGC’s (Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM) Regulations, 2016.

The regulations will apply to universities offering distance learning mode for all degree programmes at the undergraduate and post-graduate level, other than programmes in engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy and programmes not permitted to be offered in distance mode by any other regulatory body.

All examinations for programmes of the open and distance mode will be conducted within the institution where the study centres or learner support centres are located.