UGC bars BDU from conducting distance education programmes

Future of the distance education programs offered by many of the state-run universities including, Bharathidasan University seems to be bleak as the distance education bureau of the UGC has rejected application seeking recognition of their distance education programmes.

The UGC has yet again rejected application of the Bharathidasan University seeking recognition of its distance education programmes. Vice-chancellor P Manisankar said that following the negative reply to its online application it has approached the bureau seeking relief. However, many of the state-run universities also face the same fate as they may no longer be able to offer distance education courses. We are in touch with the UGC to find a solution at the earliest, he said.


Highly placed sources in the higher education department said that universities have been facing music for the mistakes committed by their predecessors. The issue started when the state-run universities including, BDU approached the high court in 2014-15 seeking a stay against UGC mandate for universities to offer distance education programs within their corresponding territorial jurisdiction. While UGC took the recognition process online in 2015-16, these universities were unable to apply for it for the fact that they didn’t obtain recognition to their distance education programmes in 2014-15.

Till now these universities have been conducting distance education courses without obtaining recognition. The UGC has been issuing public notice and letters of communication to them so far. Now it has finally barred the universities from offering the distance programs. “Instead of going to the court, the universities should have approached UGC and got recognition for their distance education courses. But they happily sat with the court order and facing issues now,” said a source from the higher education department.
A university can run distance education courses up to 2020 even if it doesn’t have NAAC accreditation but it should have UGC recognition for the year 2017-18, said the source. Bharathidasan University has once again approached the distance education bureau of the UGC seeking relaxation of norms and allow them to offer distance education course.
Former president, Association of University Teachers K Pandiyan said the move will allow foreign universities to offer distance education programs by leaving the universities like Bharathidasan to suffer.

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