Higher educational institutions can source upto forty percent of their course content externally and develop the rest of the sixty percent internally with the guidance of the Ed-tech companies according to the University Grants Commission (UGC).
But according to the amended draft, the technology service providers or the edtech companies in the amendment (Open and distance learning programs and online programmes) of regulations 2020 will not get to promote or advertise the developed content with their help as their own.
The higher educational institutions “shall have complete ownership of Intellectual Property Rights” of the content developed in-house, states the draft regulation that has been uploaded by the UGC asking for feedback and suggestions till March 15.
Mr M Jagadesh Kumar who is the chairperson of the UGC stated that the guidelines were in sync with the national education policy 2020 which suggests that institutions accredited for running online and distance learning programmes should be motivated to offer best in quality online courses.
As per the notice, it will not be compulsory to source content from external sources and institutions will have the right to have hundred percent in-house content development as well.
“The option to source content externally has been provided so that students do not have to put in efforts to locate good online programmes to pursue and add to their credit bank. The institutes themselves will do the research and provide options to students,” a UGC official was quoted as reiterating.
At the present moment, universities and their affiliated colleges that fulfill these criteria can offer online degrees and no one else.
Photo Credit: UGC
