Search
UGC to let autonomous colleges offer online degrees
February 21, 2022
Come 2022-23 academic session, students who can’t get into their objective school because of high cut-offs need not be disappointed and hesitantly go for their second option. That’s because, in addition to universities, almost 900 autonomous colleges across the nation will actually want to offer courses from a distance from July onwards as the governments open up the online education sector in a major reform to achieve a 50% enrolment ratio by 2035 in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Presently, only universities are allowed to offer online degrees. Nonetheless, the new move will allow autonomous colleges to secure ranks in the top 100 rundowns in respective subject category twice in the preceding three rankings of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) or having National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grade of least 3.26 to award online degrees without prior approval of the University Grants Commission (UGC), but in compliance with regulations.
Additionally, unlike in conventional programs where aspirants are expected to have a specific score at the Class 12 level, eligibility for admission to these online undergraduate degree programmes will be simply “senior secondary pass”. Also, for admission to online postgraduate degree programmes, the eligibility will be “pass” in the relevant undergraduate course.
The draft for the amendment in the current UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 is being finalized and will be available for feedback from stakeholders this week.
Important Links:
- Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM): https://tscfm.org/courses/3-in-1-management-program/