UGC seeks norms compliance report from deemed varsities

In an attempt to control the mushrooming of unauthorised courses, some even offering distance courses...

In an attempt to control the mushrooming of unauthorised courses, some even offering distance courses in technical subjects like engineering and medicine, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued fresh instructions to deemed universities, some of which, in its opinion, are flagrantly violating rules for seeking authorisation from the UGC and the Distance Education Council.

To counter the trend of unauthorised outsourcing or franchising of higher education, the UGC has come down heavily on those deemed universities that are running study centres “being run by private individuals without the approval of the UGC or any other statutory body”.

The move is to especially target those deemed universities that have started technical courses in the field of engineering, medical and para-medical courses through “distance mode”.

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In a letter written to all 116 deemed universities this month, the UGC has asked for a “compliance report” in a fortnight from each of the deemed universities that underlines the instructions the UGC has been periodically issuing:

• It has asked for stopping immediately such distance courses that are being run without permission

• No affiliation should be allowed by deemed to be universities

• UGC has said that private franchising of higher education is not allowed

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• Study centres run by distance mode must have proper infrastructure and be fully owned by the deemed university with its own staff

• The UGC has asked for any unauthorised centre to be closed straightaway

According to the UGC, the letter and the warning to the trend of deemed universities running without requisite permission has been issued in response to various queries it has been receiving from students and organised students confused about technical courses, being run by deemed universities “through distance mode”.

The UGC has also stated that non-compliance could lead to the ‘deemed university’ status of these institutions being withdrawn.