(a) the steps being taken to introduce distance learning in hotel management and other courses
through digital means; and
(b) the opinions of the States and experts in this regard?
(a) the steps being taken to introduce distance learning in hotel management and other courses
through digital means; and
(b) the opinions of the States and experts in this regard?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) & (b):University Grants Commission (UGC) is the regulatory authority to deal with the Open
and Distance Learning in Higher education system of the country and accordingly, notified UGC
(Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017. These regulations, inter-alia, under clause (p)
of sub-Regulation (2) of Part-I states that
“Professional programmes” means a programme other than programmes in engineering,
medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy and programmes not
permitted to be offered in distance mode by any Statutory Councils or Regulatory
Authorities to be conducted by the Higher Educational Institutions under Open and
Distance Learning mode or Distance Education mode for the purpose of these
regulations, if any, should be considered only if the same are approved by the respective
Statutory Councils or Regulatory Authorities”
Further, AICTE based on the recommendations of its Expert Committee constituted on
Technical Education through Open and Distance education mode inter-alia recommended that
only those programmes which do not involve extensive practical course work shall be
permissible through the distance education mode. Accordingly, AICTE as per its extant policy
has not given recognition to the qualifications acquired through distance mode at Diploma,
Bachelors and Masters Level in the field of Hotel Management and other Technical courses.
****