New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday notified guidelines for pursuing two full-time, same level academic courses simultaneously in physical, online or distance learning mode.
According to the UGC guideline, “A student can pursue two full-time academic programmes in physical mode provided that in such cases, class timings for one programme do not overlap with the class timings of the other programme. A student can pursue two academic programmes, one in full-time physical mode and another in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), online mode or up to two ODL and online programmes simultaneously.”
The statement further added, “Degree or diploma programmes under ODL or online mode shall be pursued with only such HEIs (higher education institutions) which are recognised by the UGC, Statutory Council or the government of India for running such programmes.”
Earlier, on Tuesday, in a major reform in higher education, UGC chief M Jagadesh Kumar had announced that the commission has decided that students can now pursue two full-time and same-level degree courses in physical mode, simultaneously, either at the same university or from different universities.
The guidelines for the same, that have been issued a day later, mentions that no retrospective benefit will be provided to students who have already done two academic programmes simultaneously before the notification of the guidelines.
The commission said that degree or diploma courses under the guidelines will be governed by its regulations and also the respective statutory and professional councils wherever applicable.
“The guidelines shall be applicable only to the students pursuing academic programmes other than PhD programme. Based on the guidelines, the universities can devise mechanisms, through their statutory bodies, for allowing their students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously,” the UGC said.
Notably, the UGC has been planning this step for a while now, but received the approval for it in 2020. Earlier, the commission had formed a panel in 2012 to examine the idea and after consultations, the idea was dismissed.
The UGC said, “With the rapid increase in demand for higher education and limited availability of seats in regular stream, several higher education institutions have started a number of programmes in ODL mode to meet aspirations of students. It has also led to the emergence of online education programmes which a student can pursue within the comforts of their home.”
“The issue of allowing students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously has been examined by the commission keeping in view of the provisions envisaged in NEP which emphasises the need to facilitate multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes,” the UGC statement further added.
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