BDU to accord thrust to distance education

Bharathidasan University (BDU) is on a ‘wait and watch’ mode after closing down study centres of its Centre for Distance Education hitherto managed by franchisees.

A thrust will be accorded to distance education programmes after re-accreditation of the university by the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee in the coming months.

The NAAC Peer Team is expected to visit the university during the first week of March next, Vice-Chancellor P. Manisankar said.

Submission of data

The university is in the process of submitting data online to the extent of 70%. The direct verification of the remaining data will be carried out by the committee, Prof. Manisankar said.

The university is looking forward to attaining category-1 status by scoring 3.51 out of four.

Under the University Grants Commission (Categorisation of Universities only) Grant of Graded Autonomy Regulation 2018, universities accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee with a score of 3.26 and above up to 3.50 is graded as category II.

Category I and II universities are empowered to offer courses in the Open and Distance Learning mode without the Commission’s approval, provided they satisfy all conditions laid down under the UGC (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017.

The university, which has hitherto been operating the distance education centres by roping in franchisees under a revenue sharing model, will henceforth conduct the courses itself in learning centres that have been planned in affiliated colleges.

Regular syllabus will be followed for all distance education degree programmes, Prof. Manisankar said.