AICTE Chairman: Ed-Tech Companies Must Not Delve Outside their Domain

“We’re not opposed to Ed-Tech Companies,” Anil Sahasrabudhe, the chairman of All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) said in an interview, “but we can’t allow them to delve into areas outside their domain. Norms must be followed.”

After close observation of some Ed-Tech companies, many growing concerns arose, that even echoed in the parliament, and led the Education Ministry to issue an advisory for parents and students involved with ed-tech companies. These concerns mainly included the companies directly offering courses like degrees and diplomas.

Earlier to the statements from the AICTE chairman, the universities and colleges offering degree and diploma programs in association with ed-tech companies were warned by University Grants Commission (UGC) and technical education regulator that norms permit no such ‘franchise’ agreement.

“Colleges and universities have received approval to offer degree and diploma programs, but they are supposed to do it on their own without piggybacking on private companies or outsourcing to some third parties,” Sahasrabudhe told Press Trust of India (PTI) in an interview. “Only colleges and universities can offer these postgraduate courses in management and computer applications. Even the top management schools in the country like IIM’s (Indian Institute of Management) are not permitted to offer management degrees. Instead, they only offer diplomas in management. Why should ed-tech companies be able to do so?”

The blatant advertisements of offering courses like MCA and MBA via ‘distant learning/online mode’ by these ed-tech companies invited these comments and actions of the government.

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“It is not my intention to minimize the importance of Ed-Tech companies that has emerged over the past years, particularly those founded by our universities and colleges. The skills and training they offer are all significant and they can issue certificates for the same but not diplomas or degrees,” he continued. “In the case of universities, it is perfectly fine if they use Ed-Tech companies' platforms to facilitate classes or administer online exams, but not if it goes beyond that and becomes a franchise agreement.”

Both the UGC and AICTE have encouraged students and parents to check the recognition status of a course on their websites before enrolling.

Parents and students dealing with ed-tech firms were also issued an elaborate advisory by the Education Ministry earlier this month asking them to be careful when making payments.

The ministry had cautioned that parents, students, and other stakeholders in education should exercise caution while opting to use online content and coaching provided by a host of ed-tech companies.

Amid this indulgence in various malpractices, several ed-tech companies formed a collective called ‘India Ed-Tech Consortium (IEC)’ under the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and have resolved to hold true to a common code of conduct.

In response to the actions taken by the government, the CEO and Co-founder of Board Infinity, Sumesh Nair, said. “It is a heavy blow for all Ed-Tech companies offering distance learning/online courses in association with renowned universities and institutions that the UGC directive has targeted these 'franchise agreements'.”

However, it was said as a ‘welcome intervention’ by the CEO and Managing Director of Jetking Infotrain, Harsh Bharwani, who continued on to say, “It is to bridge the gap between industry and academia that skilling institutes should focus on their strengths. Education ecosystems should coexist and complement each other to function optimally, not interfere with each other. Education and academia would both suffer if combined.”

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