UGC Invites Applications from Universities to Offer Online Courses
Indian universities aspiring to offer online courses from 2019-20 session can submit the proposal to UGC DEB by January 31, 2019. Universities that will be granted approval to offer courses in online mode should comply with UGC norms for conducting exams.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an official notification seeking applications or proposals from universities or higher learning institutes to offer online courses. All the universities that are aspiring to offer courses in online mode for the academic session 2019-20 can submit the proposal to UGC in the prescribed format.
UGC has taken the initiative to grant approval for online courses with an aim to reach 30% GER (Gross Enrollment Ratio) by 2020.
The online application process for submitting a proposal to offer courses in online mode will begin from January 07, 2019. Higher learning institutes that are eligible to offer online courses as per UGC norms can submit the proposal through the official website of UGC Distance Education Bureau (DEB) on or before January 31, 2019. The applicant institutes must submit the hard copies of application form/ proposal along with relevant documents by post to UGC DEB by February 08, 2019.
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As per the UGC regulations, Indian universities can offer Certificate, Diploma and Degree courses in online mode. However, courses that require laboratory or have practical exam shall not be permitted under the courses to be offered in online mode.
Eligibility Criteria for Universities Aspiring to Offer Online Course
Higher learning institutes/ university must satisfy the below eligibility criteria to offer online courses from the academic session 2019-20 –
Condition 1 | The universities or higher learning institutes must have been in existence for at least five years. |
Condition 2 | The universities should have a minimum NAAC accreditation score of 3.26 out of 4. |
Condition 3 | Higher learning institutes should be featured in the top 100 list of institutes in the overall category of NIRF rankings for at least two years. |
However, NIRF and NAAC conditions are not applicable to existing Government Open Universities until NAAC or NIRF or similar accreditation system is made available.
Also Read: JNTU-Hyderabad Launches Online Courses
Universities that will be granted approval to offer courses in online mode should comply with UGC norms for conducting exams. The online learning must have a minimum of four quadrants such as e-content, self-assessment, video lectures, and discussion forum to clarify doubts.
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