A new policy in distance education in the higher education sector

According to the Declaration of schedule of 100 days for the development of human resources of the ministry by His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources Development, a new policy in distance education in the higher education sector it was drafted.

Background

1. The terms of entry 66 of List 1 of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, and the parliament is competent to make laws to coordinate and determine the standards of higher education research institutions, scientific and technical institutions. Parliament has enacted laws to carry out this responsibility through: the University Grants Commission (UGC) for Higher Education and the General Council of the All India Technical Education (AICTE) for Technical Education. Other constitutional bodies of the other disciplines. With regard to higher education, by setting the distance, the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act (IGNOU), released in 1985 with the following main objectives, among other things: (a) to provide higher education opportunities to a wide segment of the population, particularly the disadvantaged groups living in remote and rural areas, and adults, housewives and workers. And (b) to encourage the Open University and distance education systems in the educational pattern of the country, coordinating and setting standards in these systems.



2. The history of distance education or education through a space in India, goes way back when universities offering education began by putting a space in the name of correspondence courses through the Directorate / school correspondence education. In those days, and courses in the humanities and / or in the trade offered through correspondence and taken by those who, for various reasons, including the limited number of seats in the regular sessions and employability, and the problems of access to higher education institutions and others., Can not get themselves enrolled in "and Da`-in-class" Altkulaida` face-to-face programs.

3. In the recent past, the demand for higher education has increased dramatically across the country because of the awareness about the importance of higher education, while the higher education system can not accommodate this growing demand.

4. Under these circumstances, a number of institutions, including universities, which are considered private universities, (the government), state universities and even other institutions, which has no authority to the point of the prize, cashing in on the situation by offering distance education programs in a large number of disciplines , ranging from the humanities, engineering, management, etc., at various levels (certified under graduate and graduate degrees). There is always the risk that some of these institutions may become `subtraction degree mills," semi-standard / poor quality of education, thus weakening the credibility of the certificates and other qualifications awarded through the development of distance. This calls for a much higher degree of coordination between the competent legal authorities, in the first place, UGC, AICTE and IGNOU and authority - the Council of distance Education (December).

5. The Government of India has made clear its position with regard to the recognition of degrees, and obtained through the development of distance, to be acted upon the advice Gazette notice No. 44 dated 01.03.1995.

6. Despite the risks referred to in paragraph 4 above, the importance of distance education in the provision of quality education and training can not be ignored. The development of distance education has an important role for:

(I) provide the opportunity to learn for those who do not have direct access to face-to-face teaching, working people, House wives etc.

(B) provide an opportunity for professionals to update their knowledge, enabling them to switch to the new disciplines and professions and enhance their qualifications for career advancement.

(C) to exploit the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching and learning process. And

(D) To achieve the goal of 15% of the gross enrollment rate at the end of the 11 and 20% plan by the end of the 12 plan for five years.

7. In order to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to determine and maintain standards in higher education, by ensuring coordination among the various regulatory authorities stipulated also legislatively to ensure the promotion of open education system and remote in the country to meet the aspirations of all the cross--sections of people for higher education, has developed the following policy respect to distance learning to bottom:

(A) In order to ensure proper coordination in regulating levels of higher education in various disciplines through the different modes [ie, face-to-face and distance] and also to ensure the credibility of the degree / diploma and certificates awarded by Indian universities and other education institutions, the upper body, the National Committee arise higher education and scientific research in line with the recommendations of Professor Yash pal Committee / national Commission of knowledge. Standing Committee on Open and Distance
Of the Education Committee said, it is committed to coordination, design and maintaining the standards of education through the development of distance task. Pending the establishment of such a body:

(I) only those programs, which do not involve the work of a wide-scale operation cycle, and be permitted by setting the distance.

(B) universities / institutions must framing ordinances / regulations / System, as the case may be, showing the outline of the programs that will be offered through a space refers to the number of units required, and a list of courses with the allocations, and read references in addition to learning materials self, school hours, classes in communication studies centers, assignments, examination, evaluation and classification etc.

(C) must December IGNOU evaluate only the jurisdiction of the University / Institute with respect to the implementation of distance education programs by a team of experts, which are placed before the December Council to consider the report.

(D) should be given only after the approval of the study by the Council in December and not the head, in December for this purpose, can be described as the minimum number of mandatory meetings in December

(V) will be directed AICTE under section 20 (1) of the AICTE Act 1987 to ensure software adoption in Computer Science, Information Technology and Management intentional to be presented by the institute / university through the development of distance, by the National Council for Accreditation (NBA).

Will be directed (VI) UGC and AICTE under section 20 (1) of the respective standards to frame detailed regulations description of the various programs / courses, offered through a space under their jurisdiction,

(G) does not university / institute, with the exception of universities established by or under an Act of Parliament / Legislative state power before 1985, you must provide a program through the development of distance, from now on, without the consent of December and accreditation by the American League for professionals. However, the universities / institutions that already offer programs in the humanities and trade / business / social sciences / Computer and Information Technology and Management Science of Science, have been allowed to continue, subject to the requirement to obtain a new approval from the December and dependence of the NBA within one year, otherwise, they shall have to stop the program and the whole burden with respect to professional academic and financial losses for the students enrolled with them, they should be on these institutions / universities.

(VIII) in the light of the observation of the Supreme Court, the consent retrospectively, retroactively granted by any authority for distance education may not be honored and granted from now on. However, the university established by or under the Education Act programs in humanitarian currents / trade / Social Sciences before 1991 are excluded from this policy.

(IX) students who were awarded degrees by setting the distance universities without taking prior approval of the December and other statutory bodies, and should be given one more chance, provided they meet the minimum standards requirements as prescribed by the UGC, AICTE or any other legal entity link through the system, to appear in the examinations in these securities as determined allocated to conduct the examination university. If these students are qualified in this exam, the university must be concerned to issue a certificate. It can identify the degree along with a qualifying certificate for the purpose of said work / promotion under the central government.

(X) issued a clarification with reference to the notification No. 44 Gazette date 01/03/1995 it may not be applicable to degree / certificates awarded by universities established by or under an Act of Parliament or state legislative power before 1985, in streams Humanities / trade and social sciences.
Must (atheist ten) political initiatives set forth in the following paragraphs will be applicable equally to distance education institutions offering / intends to offer distance education.

(B) must at all universities and institutions that offer programs by putting away our previous recognition / approval to offer such programs and accreditation from the designated competent authority, mandatory for the programs offered to them. To be on violators of this can be responsible for an appropriate penalty as prescribed by law. Universities / institutions providing education through the development of distance found involved in cheating students / people by giving false information / error or deliberately suppressing information must also be firmly dealt with under the criminal provisions of the law.

(C) universities / colleges have their own study centers for face-to-face advice and remove difficulties also asked academic and administrative and other assistance. And institutions should not be allowed either to the public or private concession for distance education by any university.

(D) universities / institutions should only those programs offered through distance mode in our universities through the traditional mode. In the case of open universities, so they necessarily required departments and colleges by providing relevant programs through the development of distance.

(E) will be mandatory for all universities and distance education institutions offering education on the use of communications technology (ICT) in the provision of information programs, and management of student and university affairs through a portal or any other such platform. Platform is always mentioned, displayed in the public domain, and information about regulatory approvals and other side-by-side with other necessary information about the programs on offer through the development of distance, accreditation, students enrolled, and the wisdom Snh-, etc. This can be a national database linking, and when they were created to facilitate the concerned authorities to take a point of view on the recognition of academic degrees for the purpose of seeking or working with / underneath.

(F) All institutions, universities / education must make optimal use of the contents of the e-learning for delivery / offering programs through the development of distance. It also should encourage / issued electronic surveillance technology to conduct examinations clean, fair and transparent.
(G) a focus on distance education should be to provide an education for people in situations deprived of education, such as those living in remote and rural areas, and adults with no or limited access to education of their choice etc.

(H) In order to enhance the flexibility and need to learn, and the existing system of credit check on the basis of the promotion and must encourage all the poem institutions to adopt this system and evolve a mechanism to accept transfer credits from courses successfully by students in face-to-face or put away. For this purpose, it can be considered the founding of the Bank of Credit. Similarly, you must encourage traditional universities, offering face-to-face position to accept the loans obtained by students through the development of space programs. May not switch on from an annual to a semester system will be necessary.

(I) the convergence of educational departments and face-to-face than traditional universities with education directorates put distance / correspondence course wings also with the opening of universities / institutions offering distance education, it must be impressed upon to fill the gap in the distance and traditional face put -to-face Education.

(J) shall be allowed for foreign education providers reputed well-established, recognized and approved by the competent authority in their country and are ready to provide education programs in India, according to fulfill the legal requirement of the country.

Arise (k) IT infrastructure of national information and communications and networking of institutions poem under the National Mission in Education through ICT.

Will (l) efforts to create a favorable environment to look at (the poem) open system and distance education through the creation of infrastructure such as electronic libraries, digital database and online magazines, holding regular workshops, seminars, etc.

(M) training and orientation programs for teachers and administrators in the poem system with a focus on the use of information and communication technology and the practice of self-learning, you should be encouraged.

It should encourage institutions (n) of the poem to take care of the educational needs of learners with disabilities and senior citizens.

(O) official notification clarify the issue of qualification recognition, and obtained through the development of distance, for the purpose of work, and issues.

Define (as) a mechanism for up to assess the degree of foreign universities for the purpose of academic pursuit, as well as the work of the central government. This could include the evaluation of the credentials of the university concerned, and also to test the efficiency of his degree, if necessary