UGC Reinstates Calicut University's Distance Education Courses

In a welcome move, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently reinstated the recognition of open and distance learning (ODL) programmes of Calicut University. Now the university will again be able to offer its distance learning programmes.

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The apex higher education body on Friday, 27th January 2017, granted recognition to the varsity to offer 26 courses for the next two academic years starting in 2017- 18 and 2018- 19. All these programmes will be offered under the School of Distance Education (SDE).

It was in September 2015, that the nodal education body had withdrawn the recognization of the distance learning course of the University for its failure to comply with the guidelines of the UGC. The UGC had taken up a strong exception to Calicut University for operating its off-campus counselling centres outside its territorial jurisdiction that included the Gulf regions.

A four-member delegation of UGC had visited the university to take stock of the facilities of SDE earlier this month. They assessed the facilities of SDE. The members, during the inspection, told the university to submit an undertaking that the University shall comply with the guidelines of the UGC regarding the conduct of ODL programmes.

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Complying with the rules of UGC, the University had shut down its 200 programme and counselling centres and had also converted the registration of ten thousands students under the School of Distance Education (SDE) to private registration. At the when UGC had cancelled the recognition in 2015, there were around 1.18 lakh students enrolled in distance learning programmes.

Director of SDE, Dr. V M Kannan said that it is certainly a great relief for the university as it will be able to start fresh admissions from the next academic session. However, the two current batches who were admitted under the private registration mode will complete their programme in the same mode/way.