Page 483 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

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

Annexure X

Learner Support Centre
1. General: Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode of Education consists of three levels
of functioning which are located at the Head-Quarters (HQ) of the Higher Educational
Institutions, Regional Centres and Study Centres (SCs) or Learner Support Centres (LSCs)
established within the territorial jurisdiction of the Higher Educational Institution as defined
in the following Part. Planning, Designing and Preparation of Self Learning Material (SLM)
for a learner who does not have any regular access to teachers is quite different than a Text
Book meant for classroom teaching, overall management of the processes of Admissions,
Evaluation, and Declaration of Results etc. are the main responsibilities of the Head-Quarters
of the Higher Educational Institution and are discharged from the main campus. Under the
direct management and control of the Higher Educational Institution, Regional Centres
which are the second level of functioning, perform a dynamic operational link between the
Head-Quarter and the Study Centres (SCs) or Learner Support Centres (LSCs) which are
the third level of Open and Distance Learning system and are important main contact points
for access by the learners, responsive and facilitating information centres, arranging contact
sessions and other operations like processing of assignments etc. The Study Centres (SCs) or
Learner Support Centres (LSCs) will also be established and managed directly by the Higher
Educational Institution and not through any franchise or outsourced arrangement.
2. Definition and Establishment of Learner Support Centre or Study Centre
‘Study Centre (SC) or Learner Support Centre (LSC)’ means a Centre established, maintained
or recognised by the Higher Education Institution for advising, counseling, vocational
guidance, hands on experience, library services and providing interface between the teachers
and the learners, rendering academic and any other related services and assistance, like field
experience, laboratory for experimental work, Information Communication Technology
facilities for operations and interaction with the learners etc. for the benefit of the learners:
Provided that a Higher Educational Institution offering programmes in Open and Distance
Learning mode shall, within six months from the date of notification of these Regulations,
ensure that all Study Centre or Learner Support Centre are established only in a College or
Institute affiliated to a recognised university (other than a Private University) or a Government
recognized Higher Educational Institution offering conventional mode programmes
of equivalent level in the same broad areas under the relevant faculty such as faculty of
sciences or social science or humanities or commerce or management etc. and having all
the necessary infrastructure and availability of appropriate number of qualified faculty not
below the rank of qualified Assistant Professors of recognised Colleges or Institutes offering
a similar programme for engaging theory contact sessions and supervising practical sessions
in laboratory or field:
Provided that a Higher Educational Institution may establish a Special Learner Support
Centre for imparting instruction to persons referred to in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, the National Trust for
Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability
Act, 1999 including the employees of Defence or Security Forces and jail inmates interested
to study through the Open and Distance Learning mode. However, in case of programmes
like those being developed by the Government for Skill Development or Lifelong Learning,
the Study Centre or Learner Support Centre could be opened in Government institutions
having capabilities for learner support services in the respective areas.

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UGC Regulations