UGC: Beware of unrecognised courses

MUMBAI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a circular, informing that if a student studies at open distance and learning (ODL) institutes not recognised by it, his or her graduation or certificate will be considered irrelevant. The Asian Age on November 4 reported how the Mumbai University (MU) - Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL), with close to 67,000 students, is struggling to get itself registered under the UGC after it lost accreditation in 2017, given the examination mess and losing out on the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

As per the circular, if IDOL is not recognised, students will be greatly affected and regular courses, too, can be derecognised. “No course, other than the one that finds a place in the list referred in the UGC website which is approved, will be recognised, and a candidate who studies unrecognised courses cannot claim any benefit. Under no circumstances, retrospective or ex-post facto recognition to any course through ODL mode shall be granted by the UGC,” the circular reads.

In this year’s list of approved ODL institutes in the state declared by the UGC, IDOL’s name is nowhere mentioned. According to officials of IDOL, they are currently trying to get back recognition from the UGC as well as from the NAAC. NAAC is an autonomous institute established by the UGC and its prime agenda is to assess and accredit institutions of higher learning with an objective to help them work continuously to improve the quality of education.

According to the spokesperson of IDOL, they have submitted a fresh proposal for recognition and affiliation to the UGC on October 4. Howe-ver, they are yet to hear from them. “We have submitted the proposal and are eagerly waiting for the response from UGC,” the spokesperson told this ne-wspaper Wednesday. Apart from that, as damage control, IDOL has even app-ointed 14 new professors to tackle the staff crunch wh-ich was a major problem.