AICTE notice to varsities offering degrees with edtech companies

UGC, AICTE advise students, parents to check the recognition status on their official websites before enrolling in any course. 

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued show-cause notices to two private universities for offering degree and diploma courses in collaboration with ed-tech companies, terming the “outsourcing” a clear violation of norms. The council acted after it and the University Grants Commission (UGC) warned universities and colleges against offering courses in distance learning and online mode in association with edtech companies. They had said no “franchise” agreement is permissible as per norms. 

AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe said, “We have identified two such universities whose advertisements were visible and have issued them show-cause notice. They have been asked to explain the kind of outsourcing arrangement they have with these companies and also respond as to why their approval should not be withdrawn.” He said, “We also appeal the public and stakeholders to inform us if they come across a similar arrangement between universities and edtech companies.” 

Edtech companies can’t delve into non-domain areas: AICTE chairman 

The AICTE chairman had earlier clarified that the government is not against edtech companies, but they cannot be allowed to delve into areas that are not their domain.  “We have given approvals to universities and colleges to offer degree and diploma programmes and they are supposed to offer them on their own and not piggyback on private companies or outsource their job to any third party,” he added. 

Edtech firms advertised for PG courses in management, computer applications 

“These edtech companies were advertising for postgraduate programmes in management and computer applications that can only be offered by universities and approved colleges. Even the top institutions in the country like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) were also not allowed to offer postgraduate management but only PG diploma in management till the time an Act in Parliament was passed. How can we allow ed-tech companies to do so?” he said. 

Meanwhile, the UGC and the technical regulator have advised students and parents to check the recognition status of any programme on their websites before enrolling in any course. 

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