Education not a business, cannot allow edutech to

offer unregulated courses: AICTE

NEW DELHI: As the education technology (ed-tech) industry

witnesses a boom amid the pandemic, higher education regulators

University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for

Technical Education (AICTE) are keeping a close eye on courses

offered in online and distance education mode.

On Monday, the regulators warned institutions against offering

courses in distance learning and online mode in partnership with

ed-tech companies in response to advertisements. AICTE member

secretary Rajive Kumar said that “a franchise arrangement”

between recognised institutions and unregulated Edu-tech

companies is not permissible.

“We have received inquiries about the various degrees offered by

the edu-tech companies. We have also seen these advertisements.

These courses that these edu-tech companies claim to offer have

not been vetted for standard nor their content has been verified.

Based on this content, if someone is getting a degree then the

regulators have some responsibility,” said Kumar.

‘Misleading advertisements’

The notice from AICTE pointed out that edu-tech companies are

using newspapers, television, or social media to advertise MBA,

MCA, and other degree and diploma courses in conventional, open

distance learning, or entirely online mode in association with

AICTE, UGC-approved institutes. The concern, however, is the

misleading nature of these advertisements, said Kumar.

“On our own, we are permitting 40 percent of courses through

MOOCs. But some of the universities, especially private

universities, have given all of their courses to ed-tech companies,

and these companies are selling these courses as their own and

advertising them as so. This is not permissible,” Kumar explained.

In March last year, the UGC increased the online learning

component in higher education and allowed institutions to offer up

to 40 percent of coursesper semester through online mode. Earlier

only 20 percent of the course was delivered online.

Edu-Tech regulation

According to Kumar, the collaboration between ed-tech and

recognised institutes must be regulated and proper policy

governing this could help in safeguarding students’ interests.

“We must understand that the educational sector is not meant for

profit-making. These companies do not fall under section 8 [of the

new Companies Act, 2013], or charitable trust, etc which are

profit-making entities. If they continue to sell education degrees, it

will not be allowed,” said Kumar.

The regulators have also advised students and parents to check

the recognition status of any program on their websites before

enrolling in any course.

On January 3, the education ministry had flagged off the National

Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) 3.0, a public-private

partnership between the government and education technology

companies in India. The initiative is managed by AICTE. During its

launch, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said that

a common policy will be formulated to regulate these companies.

Source: https://news.careers360.com/aicte-ugc-online-degree-
mba-mca-diploma-distance-learning-course-warning-edu-tech-
mooc-regulation