TN split over UGC fiat on distance edu courses
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:24.11.2018
A public notice issued by the University Grants Commission, saying universities running unapproved open and distance learning (ODL) courses would risk getting regular courses de-recognised has divided opinion in Tamil Nadu. In the state, only University of Madras, Anna University, TN Open University and Alagappa University offer recognised ODL courses.
The rest of the public universities, under the purview of the higher education department, obtained a stay order on the earlier UGC directive and continue to offer the courses. The recognition is based on NAAC score of 3.26 and above, which these universities don’t have.
While some educationists feel the UGC notice, issued on November 20, is a step towards enforcing better quality of ODL courses, others feel it is an over-reach by the regulatory body .
The notice gives the link to the approved courses of the universities and warns that any deviation from the UGC (ODL) regulations 2017 and its amendments would entail withdrawal permission or recognition of regular courses as well.
Many feel the UGC is questioning universities autonomy. “This shows it is not trusting the institutions. How will this help maintain standards?” said a senior official from a TN university who sought anonymity.
Others said the notice was justified. Tirunelvelibased Manonmaniam Sundaranar University vicechancellor K Baskar said such strong regulations were needed to improve standards. “But UGC should give time for us to improve standards. Otherwise it would hamper running of courses, which would affect students in rural areas who are dependent on distance learning courses.”
University of Madras vice-chancellor P Duraisamy said they had complied with the UGC’s requirements.
Higher education secretary Mangat Ram Sharma said TN universities which did not meet the required standards had obtained a stay order, but were also working to comply with the regulations.
Rule that running unrecognised distance courses could risk getting regualr course derecognised unfair, say some
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:24.11.2018
A public notice issued by the University Grants Commission, saying universities running unapproved open and distance learning (ODL) courses would risk getting regular courses de-recognised has divided opinion in Tamil Nadu. In the state, only University of Madras, Anna University, TN Open University and Alagappa University offer recognised ODL courses.
The rest of the public universities, under the purview of the higher education department, obtained a stay order on the earlier UGC directive and continue to offer the courses. The recognition is based on NAAC score of 3.26 and above, which these universities don’t have.
While some educationists feel the UGC notice, issued on November 20, is a step towards enforcing better quality of ODL courses, others feel it is an over-reach by the regulatory body .
The notice gives the link to the approved courses of the universities and warns that any deviation from the UGC (ODL) regulations 2017 and its amendments would entail withdrawal permission or recognition of regular courses as well.
Many feel the UGC is questioning universities autonomy. “This shows it is not trusting the institutions. How will this help maintain standards?” said a senior official from a TN university who sought anonymity.
Others said the notice was justified. Tirunelvelibased Manonmaniam Sundaranar University vicechancellor K Baskar said such strong regulations were needed to improve standards. “But UGC should give time for us to improve standards. Otherwise it would hamper running of courses, which would affect students in rural areas who are dependent on distance learning courses.”
University of Madras vice-chancellor P Duraisamy said they had complied with the UGC’s requirements.
Higher education secretary Mangat Ram Sharma said TN universities which did not meet the required standards had obtained a stay order, but were also working to comply with the regulations.
Rule that running unrecognised distance courses could risk getting regualr course derecognised unfair, say some
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