UGC Calls for Applications from Universities, Colleges to Offer Distance & Online Courses for Academic Sessions 2023-24

For the session starting in February 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has invited universities to submit applications for Open and Online courses for the academic year 2023–24. 

For the recognition of programmes under the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode and/or Online mode for the academic year 2023–24, academic session beginning February 2024 and onwards, the UGC is inviting new online applications from qualified Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in accordance with the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 and its amendments.

Direct Link: UGC Notice for inviting applications from Universities and colleges.

The application submission website will be accessible from October 10 until October 31, 2023. The application must be submitted by the HEI at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/.

For the academic year 2023–2024, eligible HEIs that have previously received UGC accreditation to offer ODL and/or online programmes may submit an application for recognition of any new programmes.

According to Regulation 3(B)(a) of the UGC 2020 (Available and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, the application submission window is available all year long for institutions that are permitted to provide online programmes without previous UGC clearance.

In accordance with the UGC (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018 and its revisions, it is also open to Category-l HEIs that have been notified by the UGC and that wish to offer programmes through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What guidelines and laws apply to the open and distance learning education and online education provided by Indian institutions?

Ans. The University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 were published in the Gazette on September 4, 2020, after UGC’s notification. Amendments were subsequently announced on July 1, 2021, and July 18, 2022, in the Gazette, which is accessible on the UGC website.

A university mentioned in clause (f) of section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), as well as an institution deemed to be a university under section 3 of the same Act, are subject to these regulations.

Q. How can students who want to pursue higher education via ODL and online modes find out whether an institution is recognised?

Ans. On the UGC website, https://deb.ugc.ac.in/, you may obtain the year-by-year recognition status of universities recognized/entitled to provide programmes through ODL and Online mode as well as the titles of the programmes.

On the UGC DEB website, the student must verify the HEI’s recognition status for ODL and online education for the session in which they wish to enrol. They must also review the information on the HEIs’ websites regarding prohibited programmes, the requirement that all activities take place within the territorial jurisdiction of ODL programmes, and the ban on franchising arrangements.

The recognised standing of a HEI for a prior year does not guarantee recognition standing for subsequent sessions.

Q. Can a higher education institution provide programmes via an ODL or online franchising agreement with a private service provider?

Ans. No. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have the exclusive right to provide ODL and/or online programmes.

No university may enter into a franchise agreement for the aim of providing its programmes or other relevant services in order to conduct courses through open and distance learning mode and/or online mode. Additionally, no enrollment must be permitted in a programme that indicates it is being provided by a HEI in collaboration with a private service provider.

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