UGC amends college autonomy regulations; universities to take approval for ODL courses

NEW DELHI: Now, universities will require approval of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to start courses in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. UGC has approved the amendment in graded autonomy regulations.

The new college autonomy guidelines read, “universities may offer courses in the Open and Distance Learning mode, with the approval of the commission, provided it satisfies all the conditions laid down under the regulations, by whatever name they are called, pertaining to open and distance learning mode notified by the UGC from time to time.”

In exercise of powers conferred by the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the commission has made the regulations to amend the University Grants Commission (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018.

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“The Commission in its 562nd meeting held on 28th October, 2022 considered the University Grants Commission (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018 and approved the amendment in the Regulations which have been notified in the Gazette of India on 18.11.2022 as University Grants Commission (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2022,” it said.

Earlier, the graded autonomy regulations allowed universities to start ODL courses without the approval of the commission provided that they satisfied all the conditions.