ICT Implementation in

1. Draft Document ICT Implementation in Education Institute-Employer team 3rd December, 2012 ShastriBhavan, New Delhi Points for discussion

2. Legislation for the Establishment of Online Universities ICT in Education • ICT for increased access, equity and quality in Higher Education • A Central Act for the establishment & regulation of Online Universities as Umbrella Act - similar to the Universities for Research and Innovation Bill (URIB), 2012. • Needs to allow Not-for-profit & For-profit Companies to establish Online Universities • Jurisdiction: All India; freed from regulatory intervention by the State Governments or their educational institutions. • Facilitated to offer credit based tertiary level programs (inclusive of professional and technical) - as per Madhava Menon Committee Report • Permitted for offering non-credit enrichment/training programs • For professional and technical domains: blended mode to be permitted facilitating hands-on work at the Learning Centres • To permit Institution-Institution &Institution – Industry collaborative academic programs

3. Regulatory Authority for Online/Distance Mode Universities/Institutions and Programs ICT in Education Separate Regulatory Authority (like DEC but not under IGNOU) to be establishedas suggested by Madhava Menon Committee Can be later subsumed by National Commission for Higher Education and Research Infrastructure criteria for regulatory approval of Online Universities to be redefined - lower limit fixed for land/buildings

4. Online Universities – Some Features ICT in Education • Financial Support through the above regulatory authority • To the Online Universities for the development of programs directed by the Government for public good • To the Online Universities and the students for the offer of programs in regional languages • To the underprivileged socioeconomic groups through scholarships/loan scholarships • Facilitated to develop and implement NVEQF related curriculum • Mandated to ensure quality assurance and accreditation • No cap on foreign student numbers

5. Regulation of Online & DE (ODE) Programs through Other Universities and Institutions ICT in Education • The Regulatory Authority suggested for Online Universities also to regulate ODE programs offered by any University or institution (apart from Online Universities) • For ODE programs from these institutions, same norms irrespective of ownership by Government/Private Bodies: • One time recognition process similar to UGC recognition of Universities under Section 2(f) of UGC Act; status review, if shortcomings established through statutory processes • all-India jurisdiction, accreditation norms, financial incentives, offer of programs under NVEQF and non-intervention by States and related agencies – similar to Online Universities • Collaborative arrangement to be permitted for theory counselling (for DE programs), practical/workshop training at the Learning Centres (for all ODE programs)

6. On- job Training / Apprenticeship Implementation through ODE Mode ICT in Education ODE institutions to be permitted to • offer curriculum based on-job-training at the industry with LMS support for three fold interaction (student-industry mentor-institutional mentor), report submission and assessment • participate in the implementation of Apprentices Act, 1961 • offering theoretical training using internal resources and, shop floor training through collaborative arrangement with educational institutions or industries at various locations. • providing employability skills to the apprentices as per the MoLE and MHRD schemes.