Pune: After sections of the media reported that around 35 universities in the country offering open/distance learning courses have been derecognised, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has now released a notification saying so far, no open courses of the applicant universities have been derecognised as the process is still on.
Also, recognition or otherwise by the UGC is programme-specific, not university-specific and it is a multi-step process, which means that no university will be derecognised, just courses.
There was a wave of panic amongst students and parents when the news about the derecognition of the universities surfaced. Mumbai University’s Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) Shivaji University, Marathwada University and Mahatma Gandhi University were amongst the universities in the State that were said to be losing their recognition, along with Yeshwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), losing recognition to around half its distance learning courses.
This followed after UGC’s notice in February that also stated that the institutes that would not have NAAC accreditation within three months would not be awarded recognition.
The statement issued by UGC said, “It is clarified that process of recognition of Distance Education programmes of universities submitted applications for recognition for the year 2018-19 and onwards is still on, and so far no open course of applicant universities has been derecognised. As per UGC (ODL) Regulations, 2017, recognition or otherwise is programme specific; not university specific and the recognition process is a multi-step process.”
It further stated, “The programmes complying to provisions of UGC (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017, and its amendments, get recognition in the first stage. For the programmes found deficient, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can submit representations within 30 days along with documentary evidence for consideration for recognition in the second stage. Thereafter, if the programmes still remaining deficient, HEIs have an appeal option.”
Students & parents panic
There was a wave of panic amongst students and parents when the news about the derecognition of the universities surfaced. Mumbai University’s Institute of Distance and Open Learning Shivaji University, Marathwada University and Mahatma Gandhi University were amongst the universities in the State that were said to be losing their recognition, along with Yeshwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, losing recognition to around half its distance learning courses.
