UGC’s Clamp Down on Distance

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has debarred the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) from offering open and distance learning (ODL) and online programmes.
NMIMS started its sub-campuses in five different locations without requisite permissions.
Although the UGC’s decision sends a strong message, it would have been more credible if this was done through a transparent process.

Higher educational institutions (HEI) are required to adhere to the UGC’s policy of territorial jurisdiction even for ODL. It is contrary to the idea of open learning as the technology which has no geographic or political boundaries.
In the past too, this regulation caused several regular universities to lose their learning centres outside their state. For example, Bharathiar University in Coimbatore was forced to discontinue around 450 franchises.
In a country, the number of seats in educational institutions is below demand. Cutting off on an efficient alternative like ODL will be a major mistake. It can hurt the nation in the long-term.
Funding of higher education by the state has gone down and the traditional brick-and-mortar campuses are too expensive.
Under the graded autonomy scheme of UGC, only institutions with a NAAC score of more than 3.26 on a scale of 4 (A+ grade) are permitted to start ODL courses. In fact, Kerala does not have a single such varsity and consequently cannot run any ODL programmes.
Further, ODL courses are a major source of revenue for universities.

The UGC was established as a statutory body in November 1956 by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, in accordance with the UGC Act 1956.
It is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education in India.
It provides recognition to universities in India and disbursements of funds to such recognised universities and colleges.
A proposal to replace it with another new regulatory body called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) is under consideration by the Government of India.

Distance Education Bureau of the UGC rules state that all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) offering open learning programmes are required to abide by the UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations 2020 and its amendments.
The HEIs are also required to adhere to the UGC’s policy of Territorial Jurisdiction and Learner Support Centres (LSC) as specified.
HEIs are also required to get the duration of the course, entry level qualifications and number of credits offered in compliance to UGC norms.

In case of State Universities (both Govt. funded & Private), the Territorial Jurisdiction will be as per their Acts and Statutes but not beyond the boundaries of their respective states.
In case of Deemed to be Universities, the Territorial Jurisdiction will be as per the notification of Govt. of India to accord them this status until a policy decision is taken by the UGC.
The Territorial Jurisdiction in case of Private Institutions (other than Universities) will be headquarters – any such institution desires to offer programmes beyond its headquarters then it should establish new institutions as per norms.
No University/ Institution will be allowed to franchise the Study centres; the Universities/ Institutions will have to operate the study centres themselves.

UGC’s clamp down on distance education goes against the spirit of NEP2020.
It is responsibility of UGC to ensure that the country achieves the target of 50 per cent GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) by 2035 enshrined in NEP2020.

UGC’s Clamp Down on Distance Education is Against the Spirit of NEP 2020, UGC’s Clamp Down on Distance Education is Against the Spirit of NEP 2020