Take AICTE approval for UG programmes in management, computer applications in ODL or online mode: UGC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) intending to offer BCA, BBA and BMS programmes for the academic year 2024-25 academic session (July-August 2024) to apply to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for its approval to offer these courses in ODL mode or online mode.

The HEIs have also been asked to submit the same along with the application to the UGC for its approval. It is pertinent to mention here that the AICTE has decided to regulate HEIs offering BCA, BBA and BMS programmes for maintaining uniform quality and academic standards across management and computer application programmes on similar lines of postgraduate courses/ programmes (MCA/MBA).

UGC (ODL Programme and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 stipulates that Higher Educational Institutions shall have the approval/ recommendation for programmes falling under the ambit of the respective statutory authority or regulatory council offering the programmes in open and distance learning (ODL) mode and/or online mode, while submitting an application to the Commission, the UGC letter read.

“HEIs already recognised/ entitled to offer BCA, BBA and BMS programmes with any specialisation in ODL mode or online mode shall obtain approval/ recommendation from AICTE to offer programmes and submit the same to UGC for continuation of recognition/ entitlement of these programmes for academic year 2024-25, academic session July-August 2024 and onwards,”the UGC letter added.