A number of institutions including the Delhi University, Anna University, University of Madras, University of Kashmir University among others have been granted approvals to run distance education programmes under the UGC (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations.
According to a senior UGC official, 651 courses were approved on Thursday in the meeting of the commission under the revised regulations for the academic session 2018-19. All the courses by these institutions have to be approved by the commission to be valid.
The regulations are applicable to all degree programmes at undergraduate and post-graduate level other than those in engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy and programmes “which are not permitted to be offered in distance mode by any other regulatory body.
Central and deemed universities will be allowed to set up centres across the country for this purpose while states universities within their jurisdiction.
The commission through its regulations had laid down the minimum standards of instruction for the grant of degree at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, through Open and Distance Learning mode. Under this, universities and higher educational institution will also be allowed up to 20% 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.