The University Grants Commission (UGC) has invited a fresh round of applications from eligible Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) for recognition to offer programmes under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode and/or online mode for the academic year 2023-24, classes for which will begin from February 2024. The commission issued an official notification on October 5 stating that the online portal for submitting applications will remain open from October 10 to October 31.
“Eligible Higher Educational Institutions (HEls) that have been already recognized by the UGC to offer ODL and/or Online Programmes for academic year 2023-24 may apply for recognition of additional programmes, if any,” the notification stated.
The HEI is required to submit an application at deb.ugc.ac.in and the duly certified hard copy of the application along with the original affidavit and annexure should reach Deputy Secretary, Distance Education Bureau, UGC, 35, Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi -110001 by 15th November.
The official notification read, “Higher Educational Institutions (HEls) may please note that the mere submission of an application should not be considered as grant of approval and that all application(s) shall be subject to scrutiny with respect to the standards stipulated in the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 and its amendments.”
University Grants Commission further informed that the application submission window will remain open throughout the year at the official website for:
— Higher Educational Institutions (HEls) are entitled to offer Online Programmes without prior approval of UGC as per Regulation 3(BXa) of UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 and its amendments.
— Category-I HEls notified by UGC as per UGC (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018 and its amendments for offering programmes under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.
However, the University Grants Commission (UGC) amended the norms for online and open learning to allow autonomous colleges in India to offer online and distance education programmes from the 2022–23 academic session without seeking prior approval in September last year. Still, certain categories of HEIs need to apply with the higher education regulator to seek permission. The amended norms allow them to employ education technology firms to develop content and evaluation systems.
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