At present, only universities are allowed to confer online degrees. However, the new move will allow autonomous colleges to rank twice in the last three rankings in the top 100 list in the respective subject category. National Institutional Ranking Framework ,NIRF) or having National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for conferring degrees online without prior approval of a grade of minimum 3.26 University Grants Commission ,UGC), but in compliance with the rules.
Also, unlike traditional programs, where candidates require a certain score at class 12 level, eligibility for admission to these online bachelor’s degree programs will be “senior secondary pass” only. Similarly, for admission to online postgraduate degree programmes, the eligibility will be “pass” in the relevant undergraduate course.
The draft amendments to the existing UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programs and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 are being finalized and will be available for feedback from stakeholders this week.
new framework, exclusively accessed by times of India, will allow Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), including autonomous colleges, to teach courses in emerging areas that may not be possible in in-person mode. There will be no requirement of ‘one batch passout’ in traditional programs so that the same program can be offered in Open & Distance Learning (ODL) and online mode. In the current structure, the courses taught in universities do not vary, although the medium of instruction can be either digital or traditional.
All online degrees will have the flexibility of traditional programs in accordance with NEP 2020 – such as a four-year undergraduate program with multiple entry and exit facilities. UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said online, ODL and traditional degrees will be of equal value.
All this with the underlying goal of increasing India’s Gross Enrollment Ratio to 50% over the next 13 years in line with the NEP target. It registered an increase of 26.3% in 2018-19 to 27.1% in 2019-20 for the 18-23 age group.
Kumar said, “Like the NEP, which is built on the five pillars of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability, the online education ecosystem will be developed on the same principles.”
He said that the new reforms will be notified on September 4, 2020 as amendments to the existing rules issued during the pandemic.
The UGC chief said that except for professional and technical programs that require laboratories and those programs which are restricted by any regulatory authority, the UGC chief said online degrees can be offered for all other programmes.
“Also, many universities may not have a physical model program – for example, in machine learning, data science, artificial intelligence and financial management. But they would like to offer it in online mode. So, even if you have a traditional physical The campus does not have this degree, yet you can offer these programs online,” the UGC chief explained.
Presently, the universities are offering 120 UG, 229 PG and two PG Diploma programs online. The choice is limited as only courses taught traditionally can be offered digitally.
“The new regulatory framework is to enable all autonomous colleges to provide online education because if we stick to only universities, it becomes limited. There are a large number of high quality autonomous colleges in the country. This will increase the reach of the learners. And we have these institutes will participate and offer both online UG and PG programs. These online degrees will be the same as those obtained from any physical university,” Kumar said.
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