Online College Degree programs in India to benefit students from Tier ll and lll cities more

In late July 2020, Government of India (GOI) released the much-awaited National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). The decision to allow top 100 foreign universities set up campuses in India stirred a lot of curiosity. Until now, these universities could partner with their Indian counterparts through faculty/student exchange, double degree/twinning programs etc. Elsewhere, signing mutually beneficial MoUs by governments have facilitated closer collaborations with universities of the signatory nation. However, this new decision indicates GOI’s intent to advance its motto from ‘Education for all’ to ‘Quality & competitive education for all’.

Even though India has managed to improve its literacy rate, providing uniform quality education to all is a phenomenon still taking off. Earlier students would migrate to metro cities to pursue competitive degrees. Off late many private institutions have opened campuses in little known towns. Thus, creating more avenues to deliver quality education. Most of these private institutions focused on engineering, management, pharmacy, and other professional degrees. Impractical growth in number of these institutions led to most of them closing down due to lower demand and high fees.

Developing Tier II, III, IV regions: Any government’s biggest challenge towards development is its ability to make accessible key resources across regions. The developed world has achieved this distinction. Every town is well connected, provides basic amenities and preset minimum living standards. These towns become self-sustainable by highlighting at least one USP – be it a famed school campus or industry hub or an attractive tourist destination. The ‘smart cities mission’ launched by GOI in 2015 aims to develop such sustainable and citizen-friendly eco-system in India. The prestigious IITs and NITs established in 2nd tier cities have raised overall economic index of their regions. High land acquisition and infrastructure high costs have kept a lot of courses financially unfeasible. This is where Online Degree programs (ODPs) come into the picture as they are scalable, low priced, self paced and free of geographical constraints.

UGC notifies norms for online degrees - In a major step towards allowing universities and colleges to run digital degree programs, the higher education regulator University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued regulations, laying the framework for online as well as distance learning programs.

The UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programs and Online Programs) Regulations, 2020, were notified in September. Varsities that are accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with at least a score of 3.01 out of 4 or ranking in the ‘Top 100’ universities, as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), can apply for running the online programs.

Online education has gained much traction due to restrictions imposed to check the spread of Covid-19. A higher educational institution (HGI) will be eligible to offer only those degree or diploma programs — at undergraduate and postgraduate levels — in courses that are already being offered in the classroom or open and distance learning modes, with at least one batch of graduates.

Any program requiring practical or laboratory training as a curricular requirement shall be prohibited online, except in cases where the practical component is limited to programming and coding, including software tools.

An HGI, other than open universities, shall have a designated Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) headed by a director for operationalizing the programs, as per the framework.

The norms also have provisions that stipulate teachers specifically for online/distance learning modes.

As per the norms, courses that shall not be offered in the online or distance learning mode include programs in the disciplines (including their allied domains) of engineering, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other paramedical disciplines, pharmacy, nursing, dental, architecture, law, agriculture, horticulture, hotel management, catering technology, culinary sciences, aircraft maintenance, visual arts and sports.

At present, Sikkim Manipal University, IGNOU, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Amity University, University of Mysore, IIT Madras, ICFAI University, and NMIMS have started offering 60+ online degree and diploma programs accepted by UGC.

India has a huge dropout rate of students at various stages, stopping students from accessing higher education. Online degree programs are a practical way out for a huge number of students, without interfering in their work and other engagements.

Benefits of ODPs can be :

1. Lower price of education – Online programs are perfectly scalable so they are priced very low as compared to physical classroom-based degree programs.
2. Greater geographical access – Remotest of geographical locations which do not have access to higher education because lower population density and lower paying capacity makes establishing colleges financially unfeasible can access ODPs.
3. Asynchronous – ODPs offer programs wherein a student can attend classes and take tests at a time that suits them, without interfering in their earning or other engagements.
4. Pace – Students can study at their own pace by re-attending a class and retaking a test after studying more. This is not possible in physical classrooms at all and these are freedoms enjoyed only in an online program.
5. Instant evaluation – Class tests and semester exams can be evaluated in real time and scores provided. With advances in Artificial Intelligence and handwriting recognition, even subjective exams can be assessed in real time.
6. Reputed universities – Students can join reputed universities which have a lot of competition at admission stage or have stringent eligibility criteria.

Some important parameters to increase the footprint of online degree programs are :

1. Lower Price Point – To encourage students in villages, tier 2 and 3 cities in India, the price of the program has to be attractively low to a prospective student, because of lower paying capacity of a lot of students. Absence of transportation and living charges in a different city already makes ODPs more attractive.
2. Access – Apart from faster and economical internet connection, the affordability of a device can be an issue. Downloading and offline viewing facility can mitigate low internet speed problems, while issuing/lending a device during the program would be welcome.
3. Engagement – The programs have to be kept interesting enough for a student to engage better. Gamification and multilingual/hybrid language support are essential. An excellent testing and assessment component also increases engagement as students can check what they have learnt. Weekly live online doubt sessions with teachers can help students to engage better.
4. Books – Availability of relevant books in an e-Book format with copyright compliance is needed. Provision of annotation on pages of e-Books can add to utility.
5. Job-Orientation – Addition of vocational training can make even a plain Jane graduation more attractive and can be a deciding factor for enrolling and increase the benefits of the program.
6. Internships and Placement Support – On successful completion of ODPs, internships and placement support can be provided. ODP students to be treated at par with other alumni.
7. Reputation – Apart from recognition by UGC, the ranking and reputation of program are also important. Name of a prestigious university, use of e-proctoring and even conducting physical exams in a nearby college/facility are also key factors.