Soon, top institutes to offer online degrees

NEW DELHI: The top 15% higher educational institutions will soon be allowed to offer degree programmes through online mode in various non-technical disciplines to increase the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education from the current 25.2% to at least 30% by 2022.

The ministry of human resource development has formulated draft regulations for this, which will soon be given a final shape and notified.

“Institutions with A+ or A++ NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) grade will be able to offer online degree programmes in various non-technical disciplines.

They will offer degree, diploma and other certificate programmes online,” said human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar at the meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) on Tuesday.

“Top 15% institutions, which have secured 3.26 and above score in NAAC grading (A+ or A++) will get permission,” he said.

Institutions will have to make “separate provisions” for staff and faculties to conduct the online courses, Javadekar added.

“The proposal to allow higher educational institutions conduct online degree programmes is different from Swayam.

Under the new plan, institutions will be able to offer 100% degree courses in open and online mode only in non-technical disciplines, instead of just 20% of the course as is the case with Swayam,” he explained.

Under Swayam students of the universities and other higher educational institutions can complete 20% of their degree, diploma and certificate programmes across all disciplines, including engineering.