New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has barred Maharashtra-based Narsee Monjee Institute for Management Studies (NMIMS) from conducting online and distance learning courses for a year, a statement issued by the higher education regulator, Tuesday, said.
According to the commission, the private university was found to be violating the UGC norms related to functioning of its Center for Internal Quality Assurance, poor quality of self-learning material and nomenclature of Center for Distance and Online learning.
“The commission has taken serious view on the above violations and decided in its 566th meeting held on 23 February, 2023, to debar\ban the HEI (higher education institution) from offering ODL (Open and Distance Learning) and online programme for January-February 2023, July-August 2023 and January-February 2024 academic sessions,” reads the public notice, signed by the UGC secretary, Manish Joshi.
The commission has further advised students against taking admission in courses provided by the institute via open or distance learning.
In a statement to ThePrint, the NMIMS said: “We have received the notice from UGC and are currently reviewing it. We realise that this news might cause worry among our stakeholders, students, and parents. Please be assured that we are closely working with all concerned parties to address the issue and resolve the situation as soon as possible. Our institution remains dedicated to delivering high-quality education and training to our students. We will make every effort to maintain the highest level of academic excellence in our programs.”
“We will keep you informed of any updates on this matter,” the statement read.
Established in 1981, the institute was given university status in 2003. The institute ranked 51 (the management institutions category) in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), 2022.
The institute is only permitted to offer distance learning sessions from the academic session July-August 2024 only after the UGC conducts an onsite inspection, and after obtaining necessary approvals from the commission, according to the UGC notice.
According to the rules of the Distance Education Bureau of the UGC, all Higher Educational Institutions offering open learning programmes are required to abide by all the terms and conditions as stipulated in the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 and its amendments.
The Higher Educational Institutions are also required to adhere to the UGC’s policy of Territorial Jurisdiction and Learner Support Centers (LSC) as specified. HEIs are also required to get the duration of the course, compliance of entry level qualifications and number of credits offered in compliance to UGC norms.
Last year, the commission barred Tamil Nadu’s Periyar University as it was functioning without a full-time director. It also faced issues like inadequate full-time faculty, inadequate non-teaching staff, running ODL programmes without prior approval of UGC in gross violation of conditions laid down by UGC.
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)