University Grants Commission has notified regulations for offering full-fledged online and open distance learning programme by the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). These regulations, inter-alia, include eligibility conditions, recognition process for offering online programmes, maintenance of infrastructural, academic and other quality standards by HEIs. It prohibits franchise arrangement with private sector and the ownership of offering online programmes shall be that of HEIs only. The details may be accessed at https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/221580.pdf.
Further, based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee, UGC has proposed modifications in ODL and Online Programme Regulations. It was uploaded on UGC website at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/ for seeking comments/suggestions from stakeholders, last date for which was 15th March, 2022.
Government of India in its Budget 2022-23 has announced establishment of Digital University, to provide access to studentsacross the country, for world-class quality universal education with personalized learning experience at their doorsteps in different Indian languages and ICT formats.
The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
