UGC Announces New Regulations for Online, Distance Education, Check Details Here

University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced the new regulations for online and distance education in the country.

The new regulations will allow the top 100 universities in the country to conduct online learning courses without any prior approval.

Moreover, Institutions with 3.26 or above National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) score can also provide online learning without prior permission.

Regarding the new regulations, the education minister has stated that these regulations will be an integrated model of education of distance and online mode. 

“The integrated regulations are student-centric. Many quality provisions have been made to ensure mobility, equivalence among different modes of education, complaint handling mechanism, etc,” said Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank.’

On #TeachersDay, @ugc_india integrated distance & online regulations notified in the gazette focusing on access & equity on one side and quality-centric autonomy to the universities on the other.#OurTeachersOurHeroes#TeachersFromIndia

— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) September 6, 2020

Read More: UGC Releases Notice Stating Precautions to be taken by Students before Enrolling for Open and Distance Learning Programmes

The education minister also stated the integrated distance and online regulations are compliant to budget and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat announcements. Under which top 100 universities in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) or having minimum 3.26 grade from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) will be permitted to start online programmes without prior permission but with compliance to the regulations.

Previously, Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of finance and corporate affairs, during her fifth press conference on economic measures while launching the PM e-Vidya Programme for multi-mode access to digital education announced that the government will allow the top 100 universities to offer online degree programmes from May 30, 2020.

The new regulations aim to make more universities eligible to start ODL and online programmes with new eligibility benchmarks. 

Read More: Universities to Begin Admission Process for UG and PG Courses, UGC Issues Guidelines