New Delhi: Higher Education Institutions offering education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Mode now have to mention delivery mode of programmes on the certificates issued to students.  All Universities should mention “Mode of delivery: ODL/Distance” on all documents such as Degrees, Mark-sheets, Diploma, Certificates etc issued to the students under open and distance education programmes, as per the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s direction.

In a letter Dt. 31 Oct 2016 to all Vice-Chancellors/Directors of all Universities/Institutions, the UGC expressed concern that some Institutions/Universities offering education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode have issued the Degrees, Mark-sheets, Diploma, Certificates etc. to the students without indicating the mode of delivery of the programme. Hence, there are hardly any visible differences in the certificates of conventional mode degree(s) and that of ODL mode degree(s).

The higher education regulator, in its meeting held on 2nd September, 2016, has decided that all Universities should reflect the mode of delivery of programme on all the documents issued to students in order to remove ambiguities between conventional mode degree(s) with that of ODL mode degree(s). Going forward, the UGC has directed all the Institutions/Universities offering programmes through ODLmode are essentially required to mention “Mode of deliveryl ODUDistance” on all the documents issued to students during or after the completion of programme.

Many private educational institutes offering distance education programmes violate this rule without mentioning the mode of education intentionally on certificates rather use this trick as a marketing gimmick.  With this circular issued by the UGC, these institutes will be forced to comply instructions issued by the UGC.

This step by the UGC will be welcomed by the student community as students passed out via regular/conventional mode will be recognized easily among candidates passing out via distance education mode.  The task of recruiters and employers will be easy for background verification of candidates by checking the certificates of job seekers as educational documents of distance education students would clearly indicate its delivery mode.