'Violations of rules': UGC disapproves courses in Periyar University

CHENNAI: The University of Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday disapproved the Open and Distance Learning Programmes (ODL) offered by State-owned Periyar University in Salem and cautioned the students not to take admissions courses in that institution.

This is the second university in Tamil Nadu after Annamalai University, to declare invalid the open and distance learning courses offered.

The commission, in its public appeal, said it has come to the notice through various communication received in the UGC office that Periyar University in Tamil Nadu is functioning without a full-time Director, inadequate full-time faculty, inadequate non-teaching staff, not yet established centre and running ODL programmes without prior approval of UGC in gross violation of conditions laid down under UGC regulations.

The UGC explained the university has violated the UGC regulation of Open and Distance Learning Regulations, 2077 and its amendments from time to time.

UGC secretary Rajnish Jain, in the notice, said accordingly, based on the provisions of the UGC'S ODL courses regulations, 2020, the recommendations of the Complaint Redressal Committee (CRC), in its meeting held recently, have decided that no application of the university shall be considered for the year 2022-23 to 2023-24.

In addition, it was also decided that the application submitted by the university for the year 2021-22 for offering open distance learning programmes is also not be processed besides violations were noticed based on the complaints.

"Therefore, the general public, students and other stakeholders are cautioned through this public notice not to take admission in any programme offered by Periyar University, Tamil Nadu through open distance learning mode,” the UGC secretary said adding taking admission in such programmes may jeopardise the career of the students, in view of the absence of recognition of the programmes by the UGC.

The Periyar University has five Science schools and three Arts schools comprising 27 Departments offering 32 postgraduate programmes, three B.Voc. degree programmes and 27 research programmes.

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