In a landmark reform in the field of Higher Education, University Grants Commission has notified UGC (Online Courses or Programmes) Regulations, 2018 on 4th July, 2018.
Higher Educational Institutions can offer Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes in full-fledged online mode in only those disciplines in which it has already been offering the same or similar Programmes /Courses in regular mode (of classroom teaching) or in Open and Distance Learning mode and from which at least one batch has been passed out and approved by the statutory councils, as applicable.
Online Programmes requiring Practical/ Laboratory Courses as a curricular requirement shall not be permitted.
The Examinations shall be conducted in proctored mode and in conformity with any norms for such examinations stipulated by the Commission.
The online learning shall have the following four quadrants ‘approach’, namely:-
a. Quadrant-I i.e. e-Tutorial that shall contain - Video and Audio Contents, animation, simulations, virtual labs.
b. Quadrant-II i.e. e-Content, that shall contain - Portable Document Format or e-Books or Illustration, video demonstrations, documents and interactive simulations, wherever required.
c. Quadrant-III i.e. Web Resources, that shall contain - Related Links, Open Content on Internet, Case Studies, Historical development of the subject, Articles.
d. Quadrant-IV i.e. Self-Assessment, that shall contain – MCQ, Problems, Quizzes, Assignments and solutions, Discussion forum topics and setting up the FAQ, Clarifications on general misconceptions.
The learners’ engagement will be monitored via participation in asynchronous / synchronous discussions, assignment activity and Programme involvement. The analytics of Learning Management System shall be used for ensuring the learner’s participation at least for 2 hours every fortnight.
These Regulations lay down the minimum standards of instruction for the grant of Certificate or Diploma or Degree, through online mode, delivered through interactive technology using internet. These Regulations are applicable to a University referred to under clause (f) of section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), an Institution deemed to be University under section 3 of the said Act or a University established under any State Act, which are imparting higher education or research therein by means of conducting regular classes or through Open and Distance Learning systems or through online education system that result in grant of Degree or Diploma or Certificate, in various Courses or Programmes.
The Regulations is available on UGC website and can be accessed. click here
Courses or Programmes in engineering, law, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy, applied arts and such other Courses or Programmes not permitted to be offered through Online mode by any other statutory or regulatory body or council.