UGC may allow more institutes to offer distance and open learning courses: Sources

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to allow more institutes to offer open and distance learning courses.

With an aim to make up for the academic loss during the lockdown imposed in late March to contain the coronavirus spread, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to allow more institutes to offer open and distance learning courses.

The issue of setting a new benchmark for these institutions to commence the courses was discussed at a meeting of UGC, the higher education regulator, on Thursday, an official aware of the development stated.

“Last year, it had been stipulated that institutions, which have an accreditation score of 3.26 or above, will be allowed to offer ODL [Open and Distance learning] courses. Several institutions, especially state universities and private ones, have scored less than one. If this norm is followed, these would be unable to offer ODL courses. At the meeting, it was discussed that the criteria should be relaxed and brought to an accreditation score of 3 for universities to offer ODL, or correspondence courses, as they are popularly known,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grades universities in the country and those who score above 3 on a scale of 4 are counted as A-grade institutions.

Recently, the UGC had come out with new norms to ensure only the best institutions in the country offer open and distance learning courses.

During the meeting, the official said, many UGC members have said that due to the closure of educational institutions around the country since mid-March the students have been severely affected. So, it is better to allow institutions with lesser scores to offer these courses at least for a year. It was felt the benchmark of a NAAC score of 3 should be allowed. “...once a final call is taken, UGC will officially announce it,” said the official cited above.

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