Page 446 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

Regulations pertaining to Credits, Academic Programmes and Award of Degrees:

(g) “Examination Centre” means a place where examinations are conducted for the
Open and Distance Learning mode learners and is having the requisite infrastructure
and adequate manpower for smooth conduct of examinations, and adhering to such
minimum standards as specified in Annexure III.
(h) “Franchising” for the purpose of these regulations, means and includes the practice of
allowing, formally or informally, any person or institution or organisation, other than
the Higher Educational Institution recognised under these regulations for offering Open
and Distance Learning programmes, to offer such programmes of study on behalf of or
in the name of the recognised Higher Educational Institution, and the terms ‘franchise’
and ‘franchisee’ shall be construed accordingly;
(i) “Higher Education” means such education, imparted by means of conducting regular
classes or through distance education systems, beyond twelve years of schooling
leading to the award of a Degree or Certificate or Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma;

(j) “Higher Educational Institution” means a university covered under clause (f) of section
2 and an institution deemed to be a university covered under section 3 of the University
Grants Commission Act, 1956, which is imparting by means of conducting regular
classes or through Open and Distance Learning systems, higher education or research
therein;
(k) “Learner Support Centre” means a centre established, maintained or recognised by the
Higher Educational Institution for advising, counselling, providing interface between
the teachers and the learners, and rendering any academic and any other related service
and assistance required by the learners;
(l) “Learner Support Services” means and includes such services as are provided by a
Higher Educational Institution in order to facilitate the acquisition of teaching-learning
experiences by the learner to the level prescribed by or on behalf of the Commission in
respect of a programme of study;
(m) “Open and Distance Learning” mode means a mode of providing flexible learning
opportunities by overcoming separation of teacher and learner using a variety of media,
including print, electronic, online and occasional interactive face-to-face meetings with
the presence of an Higher Educational Institution or Learner Support Services to deliver
teaching-learning experiences, including practical or work experiences.
(n) “Open University” means a University which imparts education through distance
education or Open and Distance Learning mode using variety of Information and
Communication Technology educational aids i.e. online education in the form of Open
Educational Resources (OERs) or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) etc.;
(o) “Programme” means a course or programme of study leading to the award of a Degree
at graduate and postgraduate levels in a higher educational institution including
Certificate or Diploma or Post Graduate Diploma;
(p) “Professional programmes” means a programme other than programmes in engineering,
medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy and programmes not
permitted to be offered in distance mode by any Statutory Councils or Regulatory
Authorities to be conducted by the Higher Educational Institutions under Open
and Distance Learning mode or Distance Education mode for the purpose of these
regulations, if any, should be considered only if the same are approved by the respective
Statutory Councils or Regulatory Authorities.

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University Grants Commission