The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that central, State and private universities will no longer require prior approval from the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) along with their application to UGC for offering undergraduate, postgraduate and PG diploma programmes under the disciplines of Management, Computer Applications and Travel and Tourism in Open Distance Learning (ODL) or in Online Mode.
The decision was taken by the commission in its recent meeting, considering the letter from AICTE regarding the matter. However, deemed-to-be-universities would have to continue to take prior approval/recommendation/NOC of AICTE for offering such programmes in ODL or online mode, before submitting their application to the commission.
Earlier, the UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 stipulates that the Higher Educational Institutions (HEls) shall have prior approval or recommendation for the programmes falling under the ambit of the respective statutory or regulatory authority or regulatory council for offering the programmes in ODL mode and/or online mode, while submitting an application to the commission.
