New Delhi: University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday finalised its integrated online and distance learning regulation for students’ ease of access. Under these regulations, the top 100 universities in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) or those with National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grades of 3.26 or above will be permitted to offer online courses without prior permission.
Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank took to Twitter to throw light on the matter in a series of tweets.
On #TeachersDay, @ugc_india integrated distance & online regulations notified in the gazette focusing on access & equity on one side and quality-centric autonomy to the universities on the other.#OurTeachersOurHeroes#TeachersFromIndia
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) September 6, 2020
In the Union Budget 2020, it was decided to relax regulations for launching online programmes. In July, it was reiterated as part of the measures taken to provide relief during the COVID-19 crisis.
UGC Chairman DP Singh previously told Careers360 that the commission is considering a blended learning option for institutes when they are allowed to reopen post-COVID-19 pandemic.
“Keeping the changing environment in mind we are revising the regulations, we will allow universities having 3.01 grade in NAAC,” Singh had said.
Singh further added that institutions with NAAC grades of 3.26 and above and feature in the top 100 in NIRF’s university rankings, will not need separate permission to launch degree courses. The rest will need permission.
Pokhriyal also said that the integrated regulations are student-centric.
The integrated regulations are student-centric. Many quality provisions have been made to ensure mobility, equivalence among different modes of education, complaint handling mechanism, etc. #DigitalIndia #OnlineLearning
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) September 6, 2020
The minister also added that the integrated distance and online regulations are compliant to budget and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat announcements made by the Centre.