Warning to EdTechs And HEIs Offering Admission Under Franchise Agreement

The UGC Commissioner is refusing all the claims made by EdTech companies. The commissioner firmly stated that it is not permissible for EdTech companies to offer online or open and distance learning(ODL)programs. 

The UGC is warning all the Higher Education Institutions(HEIs) and Edtech companies involved in offering open and distance learning (ODL)and online programs. 

The UGC has realized that some Edtech companies are offering admissions for diploma, UG, and Ph.D. courses and are associated with some Higher Education Institutions. The UGC has noticed these franchise agreements in newspaper and social media advertisements. The Higher Education Institutions involved are affiliated with the UGC, but the UGC disagrees with this franchise agreement. The UGC Commissioner has refused this franchise agreement, and he firmly stated it is not permissible.

UGC has promised to take legal action against the Edtech companies and Higher Education Institutions involved. The commissioner announced that the UGC would take action according to the UGC rules and regulations as applicable.

He stated that "Higher Education Institutions must provide online and Open and Distance Learning(ODL) programs as permissible by the UGC laws and regulations as per the Regulations 2020 amendments. In the Regulations 2020 Amendments, the UGC states that Higher Education Institutions cannot offer these courses under franchise agreements".

It also states that the HEIs are responsible for offering these courses and no other institution. The UGC has advised students to check the details of the HEIs and the programmes available for the online and ODl programs on this website: deb.ugc.ac.in.

The commissioner added that students must be careful, and they should go through the guidelines and rules governing online and Open and Distance Learning programs before applying. The UGC commissioner has warned to take legal actions against these defaulting companies and the HEIs.