The Mumbai University’s Institute of Distance and Open Learning was not listed under the list of Distance Learning Institutes recognized by University Grants Commission.
The UGC replied to the recognition proposal of University of Mumbai’s IDOL, that the recognition was under review by an expert committee.
While the university replied to the earlier media reports, which said the courses run by University of Mumbai’s IDOL are not recognized by the UGC, that the recognition is not canceled, but the process of getting approval is going on.
Their statement also added that “In fact, the news is based on partial and inadequate information.”
In October this year 2018-19, UGC released the list of distance learning institutes recognized by the UGC, IDOL was left out from the list.
“IDOL, University of Mumbai submitted the fresh application with compliances to the UGC on 5th October 2018 to get the recognition for IDOL programs. The scrutiny of the proposal is in progress and soon the UGC is expected to respond,” said University of Mumbai statement.
Therefore the University of Mumbai stressed that “the approval of the University of Mumbai’s Institute of Distance & Open Learning has not been cancelled and the process of approval is in progress”.
In November 2017 the Commission was passed UGC(ODL) Regulations 2017. As per this Act, every open and distance learning institute is required to get recognition to the programs from UGC.
Another important criteria to recognize the ODL is to the University to be accredited by NAAC and should have scored the CGPA of 3.26 out of 4 point scale and should have completed 5 years.
“The assessment and accreditation process of the University of Mumbai has already started, and still continues. Subsequently, the University Grants Commission made the third amendment in the regulation on September 6, 2018. As per the third amendment the ODL institutes have been given relaxation for the process of NAAC until the end of the academic year 2019 -20,” the statement said.
It also added that the Expert Committee will review the proposals of MATS University, Chhattisgarh and Sikkim Manipal University, Sikkim.