University Grants Commission, the functioning body for Higher education in India has discontinued long-distance education programs in Real Estate and Hotel Management. UGC had informed the Open and Distance Learning Regulations Act 2017 to prohibit professional programs like Medicine, Engineering and Architecture to not offer distance education programs.
An Official Order said, “As per the orders received from various regulatory bodies, distance programs in Culinary Studies, Real Estate, and Hotel Management will not be recognized from the academic session 2019 – 2020 and onwards.”
Although, UGC has allowed admissions in the recognized Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programs during the recognition period until the completion of programs, even if the university doesn’t have recognition for further years.
Later on, UGC had prohibited Distance Programs in Agriculture as well but to protect the interest of students already enrolled, ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) was requested to assist such institutions. UGC has decided to extend admission timelines.
“Since in India the rainy season continues till August-September every year and admission in conventional programs end in August, the schedule for admission in ODL programs will henceforth be as follows–for academic session beginning in January the last date would be February end and for the session beginning in July the admission process would end in September,” the UGC order said.