The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently announced an important warning about Online PhD and its approval. UGC and AICTE warned students not to be misled by marketing for online PhD programs by EduTech businesses in conjunction with international institutes. According to UGC and AICTE, an online PhD is not approved and not recommended to students.
“In order to maintain the standards for awarding PhD degrees, the UGC has notified the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of MPhil, PhD degrees) Regulation 2016. It is mandatory for all higher educational institutions (HEIs) to follow UGC Regulations and its amendments for awarding PhD degrees,” the notice stated.
Online PhD is not Approved by UGC and AICTE
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has warned universities and colleges against offering courses in distance learning and online mode in association with Ed-tech companies. This is the second such warning this year by the higher education regulator and the country’s top technical education body, the AICTE.
“In order to maintain the standards for awarding PhD degrees, the UGC has notified the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of MPhil, PhD degrees) Regulation 2016,”
UGC
UGC has notified all universities to follow its guidelines for awarding PhD degrees. The higher education regulatory body issued a public notice on Friday.
Students can pursue two full-time academic programs simultaneously but PhD programs do not fall under the guidelines.
UGC has also warned that some online PhD programs are not UGC-approved and should be checked before enrolling.
The central government had cautioned EdTech businesses against unfair marketing practices in July. It is also creating an EdTech regulation policy.
Source: UGC
