Aiming to streamline admission in open and distance learning programmes offered in higher education institutions, the University Grants Commission has come out with an admission schedule. According to the schedule fixed by the UGC at its recent meeting, for academic session beginning in the month of January, admission has to be completed by the end of February.
Similarly, for academic session beginning in the month of July, admission has to be completed by the end of August. The UGC has also mandated that higher education institutions upload the admission details within ten days from the last date of admission in each academic session. For January academic session, admission details need to be uploaded in the website by March 10 and for July academic session, admission details need to be uploaded in the website by September 10.
The UGC has also asked higher education institutions to comply with all the provisions of the UGC (ODL) Regulations, 2017 and its amendments. If any deviation is noticed, the same would entail not only withdrawal of permission or recognition for such ODL courses, but also for other courses offered by the institutions on regular and conventional mode, UGC warned.
The UGC also uploaded the updated list of university and courses, which are recognized by the commission to offer under ODL mode in its website. According to the list, a total of 81 universities across the country can offer programmes under open and distance learning mode as on December 31. In Tamil Nadu, University of Madras (30 programmes), Anna University (three programmes), Tamil Nadu Open University (82 programmes), Tamil University (15 programmes) and SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University) (five programmes) were permitted to offer programmes under ODL mode. Some of the state universities including Bharathiar University have obtained a stay against the UGC (ODL) Regulation and are offering programmes under ODL mode.
