UGC stops GITAM Andhra Pradesh from offering distance, online courses for a year

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has barred Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) Andhra Pradesh from offering open distance learning (ODL) and online programmes for one-year for allegedly violating the UGC’s regulations on these modes of teaching.

A public notice issued by the commission says: “Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) Andhra Pradesh will not admit any student in any of the ODL and online programmes during the disbarred period of one year.” Further, it has advised students not to take admission in these programmes for 2021-22.

The public notices says that GITAM Andhra Pradesh "has not adhered to the above regulations and admitting students in violations of the provisions of previous and current regulations".

In response, a spokesperson at GITAM told Careers360: “We at GITAM follow every regulation laid down by the UGC, we are studying the notice and will work with the regulatory body to understand the specific issue.”

The UGC's Open and Distance Learning Regulations were notified in June 2017; the regulations on "online courses or programmes" in July 2018; and the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations 2020, in September last year.

The decision to bar GITAM Andhra Pradesh was taken at the commission’s meeting in July.

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