New Delhi: In a communication received from the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Distance Education Council (DEC), it has been stated that:

It has come to the notice of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Distance Education Council (DEC), that some Universities, Institutions Deemed to be Universities and other institutions are offering technical education programmes in the 'distance mode' without the approval of the concerned statutory Councils.

All Universities, Institutions, Deemed to be Universities and other institutions are hereby cautioned that running such programmes and giving misleading advertisements regarding unapproved ' distance mode' courses and programmes of study, shall attract severe action under the provisions of applicable laws, including that of de-recognition and withdrawal of institutional approval.

It is hereby clarified, in the public interest that there are a number of courses or programmes of study leading to Degree / Diploma or other awards in Engineering & Technology, Management, Computer Applications, Architecture & Town Planning, Pharmacy, Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Applied Arts and Crafts, etc., which have not been approved by the appropriate Statutory Council for being conducted in the 'distance mode'. It is also reiterated that all courses or programmes of study in the 'distance mode' require the approval of the DEC.

Students, their parents and the general public are, therefore, advised to refer to the web-sites of the UGC (www.ugc.ac.in), the AICTE (www.aicte.ernet.in) and the DEC (www.dec.ac.in), to verify and satisfy themselves of the list of approved courses or programmes of study, before joining any programme in the 'distance mode'. Students, their parents and the general public are also requested to bring any violation of the above statutory position to the notice of the UGC/AICTE/DEC/ other appropriate Council.

(Dr. T.R. Kem)
(SECRETARY)
University Grants Commission
(Statutory Body of Govt. of India)

(Dr. K. Narayana Rao)
(MEMBER SECRETARY)
All India Council for Technical Education
(Statutory Body of Govt. of India)

(Dr. Rajasekhran Pillai)
(CHAIRMAN)
Distance Education Council
(Body setup under IGNOU)

Proposals for approval may be sent to:
The Director
Distance Education Council,
IGNOU Campus, Maidangadi,
New Delhi – 110 068
Tel: (011) – 29533340
Fax: (011) – 29536668
E-mail:basuswaraj@hotmail.com