The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a public notice encouraging students to be cautious when enrolling in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Learning (OL) courses.
This recommendation is part of the UGC’s continuous efforts to maintain the integrity and quality of higher education in India. The UGC has set basic instructional criteria for conferring degrees through ODL and OL platforms, as stated in rules announced on September 4, 2020 and revised since then.
Students are advised to verify the recognition status of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) for each academic session on the UGC Distance Education Bureau (DEB) website. It is imperative that students are aware of programmes that are prohibited from being offered via ODL and OL, and that no unauthorised franchising arrangements are involved. The UGC has underscored the importance of enrolling only in recognised programmes provided by authorised institutions to ensure the validity of their educational qualifications.
Significantly, the UGC has implemented a required DEB-ID, which students must get via the UGC-DEB online page. This DEB-ID will be connected to the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)-ID beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.
This project attempts to simplify student identification across ODL and OL programs while also ensuring accurate credit accrual and transfer. Furthermore, the UGC has extended the deadline for admissions to November 15, 2024, providing prospective students plenty of time to validate the accreditation of their preferred schools and courses.
To provide transparency and facilitate informed decision-making, the complete details, including the list of recognized HEIs and approved programmes, can be accessed on the official UGC website. Students are encouraged to take these precautions seriously to safeguard their educational and professional futures by ensuring their credentials are from UGC-recognized institutions complying with the necessary standards.
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Source: Education Times
