The University Grants Commission (UGC) has clarified that no university — Central, State, private or deemed — can offer programmes through ‘study centres’, even for the purpose of conducting courses through the distance mode.
The decision puts to rest all controversies with regard to courses offered through the distance mode or through franchisees.
No private or deemed university can run off-campus programmes in areas other than that in which they are established, a note posted on the UGC website said.
Moreover, deemed universities cannot run distance education programmes, it said. The clarification was issued by the UGC in view of misleading advertisements by various institutes.
Universities established by a State Act can only offer programmes in the territorial jurisdiction allotted to it.
Similarly, private and deemed universities cannot affiliate any college for conducting courses leading to award of diplomas/ degrees.
M.Phil and Ph.D courses cannot be run under distance mode. They have to be offered through regular mode only, as per UGC regulations of 2009.
The UGC has also asked students not to take admission in approved study centres, off-campus centres, franchisee institutions and colleges claiming to be affiliated with private universities or deemed universities.
