UGC declares ODL courses offered by Annamalai University invalid

In a public notice, the Higher Education Regulator, asked students not to take admission in ODL courses offered by the Annamalai University as it violates and regulations of the commission. 

UGC declares ODL courses offered by Annamalai University invalid

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses offered by Annamalai University are invalid. In a public notice, the Higher Education Regulator asked students not to take admission to ODL courses offered by the Annamalai University as it violates and regulations of the commission. 

In a notice dated March 25, UGC stated that the varsity has been admitting students under the open distance learning (ODL) programmes in “gross violation of all conditions laid down under the UGC Rules (Open and Distance Learning Regulations, 2017) and its amendments from time to time”, the latest being the regulations issued in 2020.

It further stated that the University had been recognized to offer the open and distance learning courses only until the academic year 2014-15 after which no recognition was accorded. It further stated, “the University is solely responsible for the career consequences of the students, if any, arising out of the same.”

While warning the student, Rajnish Jain, Secretary of UGC, said taking admissions in such programmes may jeopardise the career of the students, in view of the absence of recognition of the programmes by the UGC.

Meanwhile,  Annamalai University Vice-Chancellor RM Kathiresan told the Hindu : “We have filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court [in this regard]. We have recently been accredited by NAAC and the results are expected to be out by this week. Once the results are out we are confident of getting the highest grade and there won’t be a hindrance for us to offer distance education programmes.”

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