Page 522 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

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

f. Conventional mode‖ means a mode of providing learning opportunities through face to
face interaction between the teacher and learner in regular class room environment but
does not exclude supplementary instructions if any for the learner through use of online;
g. Credit‖ means the Unit award gained by a learner with study efforts of minimum number
of hours required to acquire the prescribed level of learning in respect of that Unit;
Explanation.- For the purpose of this clause, A study effort for one credit shall mean time
required by a learner to understand the contents equivalent to 15 hours of classroom
teaching or 30 hours including self-learning time required to acquire the prescribed
level of learning in respect of that Unit;

h. degree‖ means a degree specified under sub-section (3) of section 22 of the Act;
i. Dual Mode University‖ means a Higher Educational Institution offering programmes
under conventional mode and also under Open and Distance Learning mode and/or
Online mode;

j. e-Learning Material‖ means and includes contents in the form of structured course
material, as a part of one or more courses in the Online Programme, in digital format
delivered through Learning Management System, which is inter alia self explanatory,
self-contained, self-directed at the learner, and amenable to self evaluation, and enables
the learner to acquire the prescribed level of learning in a course of study, but does not
include text-books or guide-books; as defined in these regulations;
k. Examination Centre‖ means a place where examinations are conducted, inter alia, for
assessment of the learners pursuing programmes under Open and Distance Learning
mode and Online mode and is having the requisite infrastructure relevant to respective
mode of education including adequate manpower for smooth conduct of examinations
and adhering to such minimum standards as specified in these regulations;

l. 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
programmes under Open and Distance Learning mode and Online mode, to offer
such programmes of study or any related activity on behalf of or in the name of the
recognised Higher Educational Institution, and the terms ‗franchise‘ and ‗franchisee‘
shall be construed accordingly;

m. Higher Education‖ means such education imparted by conventional mode or through
open and distance learning mode or through online mode conducting regular classes
or through Open and Distance Learning mode or through Online mode, beyond twelve
years of schooling leading to the award of a Degree at undergraduate or postgraduate
level or Certificate or Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma;
n. Higher Educational Institution‖ means a university under clause (f) of section 2 and
an Institution Deemed to be a University under section 3, of the University Grants
Commission Act, 1956, which is offering programmes through conventional mode and/
or through Open and Distance Learning mode and/or through Online mode, in the field
of higher education or research therein;
o. Information and Communication Technology‖ means the diverse set of tools and
resources used to communicate, create, disseminate, store, manage information and
be deployed for realising the goals of interactive teaching-learning, enhancing access,
ensuring knowledge cum information sharing, building capacities and management of
the educational system and resources;

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University Grants Commission