29 AMU distance learning centres closed

NEW DELHI, JUNE 5: The recent guidelines issued by the University Grant Commission's (UGC) Distance Education Bureau (DEB) has forced Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to discontinue its 29 distance learning academic centres across the country. The decision to close the centres came into effect as the university failed to act in accordance with the UGC’s 2017 regulations.

As per the new directive, only the universities that conform to a NAAC grading of 3.26 or above can offer distance- learning programmes. Twenty-nine of the 35 centres under the varsity failed to conform to the new mandate.

The rest of the centres which qualify the criteria put forward by UGC in 2017, will also need a fresh consent to continue. These centres located at Moradabad, Badayun in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and two in Bihar, enroll around 2000 students every year as compared to about 4000 annual enrollment in the 29 centres which have been closed down.

According to the UGC officials, the NAAC accreditation has been made mandatory for open universities and institutes offering distance learning courses to enhance the quality of distance education in the country.