UGC bans Open and Distance Learning degree programmes in agriculture courses; read notice here

In a meeting held in January 2019, this year, the University Grants Commission had decided to prohibit Agriculture degree programmes in ODL mode from the academic session 2019-20.

By : ABP Live | Updated at : 29 Mar 2019 02:21 PM (IST)

UGC bans Open and Distance Learning degree programmes in agriculture courses; read notice here UGC bans Open and Distance Learning degree programmes in agriculture courses; read notice here

University Grants Commission had decided to prohibit Agriculture degree programmes in ODL mode. (Image: PTI)

UGC has announced a ban on ODL mode for Agriculture Degree

ICAR has also given its approval to veto Agriculture Degree Programmes

ODL Agriculture Degree Programmes: UGC has announced a ban on Open & Distance Learning (ODL) mode for Agriculture Degree Programmes. In a meeting held in January 2019, this year, the University Grants Commission had decided to prohibit Agriculture degree programmes in ODL mode from the academic session 2019-20, that will be commencing from July 2019. The Department of Agricultural Research & Education and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has also given its approval to veto Agriculture Degree Programmes in Open & Distance Learning (ODL) mode. As per an official privy to this development, “To protect the interest of the students already enrolled to the agriculture degree programme, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been requested for hand-holding of such higher education institutions. However, no new enrolments will be permitted from the 2019 academic session.” In the notice released by UGC, the Commission has cited University Grants Commission (ODL) Regulations 2017 provisions regarding professional programmes, in which it stated, "Professional programmes” means programme other than programmes in engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy. "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 is approved by the respective Statutory Councils or Regulatory Authorities,” the notice read further. As per UGC, the Agriculture degree programmes cannot be best done in an ODL setting, as practical sessions and laboratory classes are a must to accomplish the course goals fully. Candidates who intend to pursue higher education in agriculture must keep a watch on ICAR and UGC’s websites to stay abreast of further development on this amendment by the University Grants Commission. Read the official notice of UGC ban on Agriculture Degree Programmes in ODL mode here

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