Majoring in the appropriate mode of higher education is an important choice to Indian students. As the online learning and flexible education terms are rapidly expanding, now students have three primary ways to obtain a degree: Regular, Distance (ODL), and Online. The University Grants Commission (UGC) controls all of these modes, and guarantees the quality of the academic, transparency, and national recognition. Despite the differences in the methods of delivery, the greatest factor that defines the validity of any degree is the approval of the university and the particular program by UGC. The concept of the differences between these three modes assists students to select the most appropriate alternative depending on their career aspirations, time constraint, financial status, and personal commitments.
- Regular Degree
The most common and long known higher education degree is a Regular degree. In this format, physical classes are taken in a college or university campus in accordance with a regular academic schedule. Students will be obliged to attend the lectures, seminars, workshops, practical sessions, and internal testing. Standard programs are based on a systematic academic program that incorporates classroom instruction, assignments, presentations, mid-term tests and end-of-semester examinations that are undertaken offline. Face-to-face contact with the members of the faculty and other students enriches the learning process of the students by providing discussions and group work. Moreover, other campus amenities available to the regular students include libraries, laboratories, hostels, sports complexes, student clubs and placement cells.
Institutions that have regular degrees need to be registered by the UGC Act. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is also the body that accredits most reputable institutions and appraises and assesses institutions of higher education as per their quality standards. An elevated NAAC grade tends to be a pointer of superior school performance and facilities. Normal degrees are fully recognized in government jobs, competitive exams, higher education in India and abroad as well as employment in the private sector.
- Distance Degree (Open and Distance Learning – ODL)
Distance education, formally called Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is developed to achieve the needs of students who are unable to study in normal classes because of work, family commitments, or geographical constraints. According to the UGC regulations, the universities can only offer the programs in the distance mode under the approved university. One of the most famous examples of distance education providers in India is Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) which provides a variety of undergraduate, post-graduate, diploma and certificate programs nationwide.
In distance learning, students are provided with study materials either in print or electronic forms and they are supposed to learn on their own. Certain schools have Personal Contact Programs (PCPs) or academic counseling, but these are all optional or restricted. Students have a lot of control over the learning process and they can study at their own time. In examinations of the distance mode, the examination is usually done in specified examination centers as opposed to through the Internet. Learners need to be physically present to take end term exams.
- Online Degree (Fully Online Mode)
Online degrees are a newer development in the world of higher education that is aided by the presence of digital technology and the internet. Contrary to the conventional distance learning, online programs are offered solely using a digital platform via Learning Management Systems (LMS). Students participate in real-time virtual classes or listen to tape-recorded lectures, do their assignments via the internet, take part in online discussion groups, and interact with members of the faculty via digital technology. Online proctored examinations are done that guarantee academic integrity and identity checking.
UGC has allowed full online degree programs to be offered by qualified and well recognized universities only. The institutions should be able to provide a certain set of requirements, including a high accreditation score or ranking criteria, to introduce online courses. These programs are supposed to be guided by a credit based curriculum and ensure that there is a minimum of instructional hours like normal programs. Online degrees offer organized education together with flexibility. Although the students are not required to visit a campus, they have a specific academic time and they are involved in interactive sessions.
Regulatory Bodies for Professional Courses
Although there are general higher education regulatory authorities, the UGC, some professional courses need to be approved by specialized authorities. As an illustration, the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) may have to be identified through technical and management programs. In the same way, there is the National Medical Commission (NMC) that controls medical education. Pure distance mode cannot accommodate many of the professional courses like engineering, medicine, architecture and some paramedical courses because of practical training and lab work involved. Students should thus be keen to ensure that they have checked UGC recognition as well as that of the relevant professional council prior to admission.
Key Differences at a Glance
Career and Government Job Validity
The question as to whether online degrees or distance degrees are sanctioned to obtain government jobs is one of the most prevalent questions among students. The UGC guidelines classify that the degrees awarded by the university and the program via Regular mode, Distance mode or the Online mode are valid provided the university is accredited. The graduates of accredited institutions are in a position to be recruited in civil services, banking, railways, defence services, in state public service commission and other competitive examinations. The degree of education is not a prerequisite of eligibility, but acceptance of the degree. The employers in the private sector might want to recruit regular graduates in the campuses but as stipulated by the law, one cannot be rejected by the employer simply because the degree was done through the distance or online mode provided it is recognized by UGC.
Conclusion
There are three bodies of higher education in India that are accepted and valid as a route to higher education: regular, distance and Online degrees. All the modes possess their pros and cons. Frequent education provides systematic classroom training and exposure on the campuses. Distance learning offers utmost freedom and low cost. You may also access free career counseling in Online Universities. The students should confirm the UGC recognition, NAAC accreditation status and program specific approvals before enrolling because this will help them ensure the long-term academic and professional value of their degree, it all depends on personal objectives, life and the career one wants to pursue before deciding which mode suits best. With such differences made clear, the students will be able to make sound decisions and plan their future with certainty.
