August 12,2018:
UGC has ‘cancelled’ Recognition of Distance learning courses offered by 35 State and Central Universities, casting into uncertainty the future of lakhs of higher education aspirants across the country.
Institutes have been given a month to submit their explanation to seek reversal of UGC’s decision.
UGC’s distance education bureau notified that universities not running the same/similar course in regular mode for the past five years would also not receive recognition.
In case of professional courses such as MBA, MCA, BEd, hotel management and tourism, UGC, in its announcement, stated that recognition would not be accorded without the prior approval of the respective regulatory authority.
Fearing cancellation, several universities have reduced their programme offerings, as they did not meet the compliance requirement.
Maharashtra is one of the worst affected with Mumbai University’s Institute of Distance and Open Learning(IDOL), Shivaji University, Marathwada University and Mahatma Gandhi University losing their recognition.
Besides, Yeshwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University can admit students only to only 17 of its 38 UG and PG programmes in 2018-19.
D Harichandan, Director of Mumbai University’s IDOL, said, “Expert committee had strongly recommended all our courses. We don’t know what happened after that. Mumbai University is an autonomous body and our courses are recognized by our academic council; Who is the UGC to derecognise us?”
Cancellation was reasoned to the absence of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation for this university; the grade expired in April 2017.
As per the UGC’s notice on February 6, institutes not accredited by NAAC within three months would not be awarded recognition.
In case of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the VC Nageshwar Rao stated that there was confusion over professional courses, in addition to two to three other programmes. “We have sent our records to UGC for verification,” said V-C .
Source TOI
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