Distance Education Bureau (DEB) in India: A Complete Guide

Is Distance Education UGC Recognized?

There is a possibility that the education offered in these colleges may not add much value to the student’s portfolio and knowledge. Hence, the HRD ministry decided that all the universities that are offering distance education should be now regulated under UGC (University Grants Commission). The distance education degrees received by the students from colleges or universities which are not under UGC, cannot be considered as valid degrees or certificates.

With the help of UGC ODL regulations, the organization has set a few standards of instruction to the universities for the courses that are offered to the students in distance mode. The courses can be for undergraduate or postgraduate levels. Further, the regulations also allow the students to pursue about 20% of the courses that are being offered in a semester using the distance mode under the UGCs regulations for credit framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM (e-learning portal).

What is the Distance Education Bureau (DEB)?

The Distance Education Bureau (DEB) was established in India in the year 2012, as a replacement to the Distance Education Council (DEC). The Distance Education Council (DEC) was launched in 1985, as an organization that is in charge of distance education and open learning. The Distance Education Bureau (DEB) India is the one responsible for regulating distance education in our country. The Bureau has its headquarters in New Delhi, and Dr. Avichal Kapur is its joint Secretary.

Objectives of Distance Education Bureau (DEB)

• To offer an alternative for wider opportunities in education
• To offer affordable and efficient education to students
• To provide educational facilities to all interested students
• To offer academic pursuits to individuals who are willing to upgrade their knowledge
• To educate those people who look at learning as life-long activity

Role of Distance Education Bureau (DEB)

The Department of Higher Education established the Distance Education Bureau for regulating the processes and activities carried out in distance education programs for higher education in the country. It is important to make sure that the colleges are working as per the standards established by the Distance Education Bureau.

The Distance Education Bureau is an entity that ensures that all the universities offering distance education comply with the standards and rules to maintain the high quality of education in all the courses and programs.

It aims to provide high-quality education for the students which will enrich them with good knowledge and incorporate key skills.

The Bureau takes care of all the activities and tasks related to distance education which includes course material formats, admission processes, document requirements, giving affiliation to the colleges, and conducting exams.

Functions of Distance Education Bureau (DEB)

• To ensure that each university complies with the rules and standards
• To maintain quality of education in these programs
• To increase the impact of distance education in our country

Distance Education Bureau Vs Distance Education Council

In previous years, the Distance Education Council regulated distance education courses in India. Later, in December 2012, the HRD ministry, along with the Department of Higher Education gave some directions for carrying out distance education in the country. The regulations brought higher education distance learning courses under UGC after the dissolution of the DEC.

How does the college or university get approved by UGC?

The University must begin with applying for the UGC in the already given format. If the university is able to fulfill the criteria given in the UGV 12 B rules, there is a visit conducted in the college by the expert committee of UGC. They assess the infrastructure, faculty, student’s performance, and other important aspects of education after assessing the university.

The committee offers some recommendations to the university and then they take final decision about its inclusion. In case of colleges, the result is based on the criteria given by the UGC under Colleges under UGC 12 B Rules.

Are DEB and DEC the same?

The Distance Education Bureau can be stated as a new form of the Distance Education Council. There have been certain improvements in the old regulations and they have been working on the new ones.

Now, all the institutes must take a permit from DEC to introduce any distance education course in the country, as per the guidelines of UGC.

Conclusion

The rising adoption of online education and remote learning is encouraging students to pursue various programs and courses through distance learning opportunities in various universities and institutes. Further, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the institutes to carry out remote schooling activities, which is further increasing the student’s interest in distance education. However, the students need to make sure that the course provider is meeting the standards of UGC to ensure high quality of education.

Further, the implementation of New Education Policy 2020 has given a major emphasis on distance learning and credit score based marking system, which is creating more opportunities for adoption of distance education in the country.