Question : Education Programmes Offered by Autonomous Colleges

(a) the number of autonomous colleges functioning in the country, State-wise along with the special features enjoyed by them over affiliated colleges;
(b) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has suggested modifications in rules to allow autonomous colleges to offer online and distance education programmes from academic session 2022-23 without prior approval from UGC and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has consulted all the stakeholders and the general public before implementation of these modified rules and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether these modified rules also allow employment of education technology firms to develop content and evaluation system and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure the quality of online and distance education being provided by these autonomous colleges in the country and the monintoring system in this regard?

MINISTER OF EDUCATION

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

Part (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *360 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022 ASKED BY SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAY VASANTH, SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU,HON’BLE MEMBER(S) OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING “EDUCATION PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY AUTONOMOUS COLLEGES”.
(a) UGC has notified its Regulations: University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status Upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2018, for granting autonomous status to colleges. The autonomous colleges have administrative and academic autonomy for promoting broad based quality education and excellence. The details of regulatory provisions can be accessed at https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/2838506_182734.pdf.
State-wise List of UGC approved autonomous colleges is enclosed at Annexure-I.
(b) to (d) Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee, UGC has proposed modifications in ODL and Online Programme Regulations. As per the proposed modifications, autonomous colleges having a minimum NAAC score of 3.26 on a 4-point scale or having a rank in the top-100 NIRF, at least twice in three preceding cycles, may be permitted to offer programmes in online mode without the prior approval of the Commission. The HEIs may avail the services of educational technology firms for the purpose of technology maintenance, learning platform, advertisement and marketing etc. However, entire responsibility of offering the online programme with or without support of educational technology firms will be with HEIs. Any advertisement or marketing activity in respect of such programmes shall be solely and expressly in the name of the Higher Educational Institution.
The proposed modification was uploaded on UGC website at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/ for seeking comments/suggestions from stakeholders.
(e) UGC has notified UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 and an amendment on 4th September, 2020 & 1st July, 2021 respectively in the Gazette. The same is available on UGC website at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/.
The above regulations have specific provisions to ensure the quality of online and distance education and its monitoring system. The same provisions shall be applicable to autonomous colleges after notification of UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2022.

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