UGC Standardizes Enrollment Process To Enhance Transparency In Open And Distance Learning
UGC Standardizes Enrollment Process To Enhance Transparency In Open And Distance Learning
15 August 2024
The UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, under the new plan, students who wish to enroll in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online programs must first register on the UGC’s Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB) web portal at deb.ugc.ac.in. They will need to use their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)-ID to create a unique DEB-ID. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is introducing a new enrollment procedure for students wishing to join open and distance learning (ODL) and online programs this academic year. According to UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, students must first register on the UGC’s Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB) web portal at deb.ugc.ac.in using their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)-ID to create a unique DEB-ID.
The DEB-ID will be required for all students enrolling in recognized ODL/Online programs, with the exception of foreign learners, and it will be valid for their entire lifetime. The UGC Chairman stated that Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) are encouraged to implement this new admission process effectively and promote it to new learners to ensure successful adoption and operation. Once generated on the UGC-DEB web portal, the DEB-ID will be valid for lifelong ODL/Online learning.
This change will take effect in September 2024 and aims to ensure that students enroll only in accredited higher educational institutions (HEIs) that offer ODL and online programs, according to Mamidala. This new procedure is designed to enhance transparency in the admissions process.
The Chairman also highlighted that the UGC (ODL Programs and Online Programs) Regulations, 2020 establish the minimum standards for such programs, and a list of recognized institutions can be found on the UGC Distance Education Bureau website.
“It has come to the Commission’s attention recently that some HEIs have admitted students into unrecognized ODL/Online programs, jeopardizing the future of those students. To address these incidents and enhance transparency in the admissions process for ODL and Online modes, the Commission decided during its 581st meeting on June 25, 2024, to standardize the admission procedure for students enrolling in ODL and Online modes to protect their academic future and career opportunities,” an official statement regarding this matter noted.
