Section 2 in AICTE (Open and Distance Learning Education) Guidelines for Institutions - Deemed to be Universities, 2019
2. Definitions.
- In these Guidelines, unless the context otherwise requires:2.1"Academic Session" means duration of twelve months beginning either in January or in the month of July of every year;2.2"Act", means the AICTE Act, 1987;2.3"Institutions" mean Higher Educational Institutions declared to be Institutions-Deemed to be University under UGC Act 1956.2.4"Centre for Internal Quality Assurance" (CIQA) means a Centre as specified in Annexure I established by an Institution offering programmes in Open and Distance Learning mode for ensuring the quality of programmes offered by it through internal quality monitoring mechanism in accordance with the Guidelines as specified in Annexure II;2.5"Credit" means the Unit award gained by a learner by study efforts of a minimum of thirty hours required to acquire the prescribed level of learning in respect of that Unit;2.6"Diploma/Post Diploma Certificate/Post Graduate Certificate/Post Graduate Diploma/Post Graduate Degree" means an award of a Certificate/Diploma/Degree specified under sub-section 10(i) of the AICTE Act (as defined in the Approval Process Handbook).2.7"Examination Centre" means a place where examinations are conducted for the Open and Distance Learning mode learners and is having the requisite infrastructure and adequate manpower for smooth conduct of examinations, and adhering to such minimum standards as specified in Annexure III.2.8"Franchising" for the purpose of these guidelines, means and includes the practice of allowing, formally or informally, any person or institution or organisation, other than the Institutions recognised under these guidelines for offering Open and Distance Learning programmes, to offer such programmes of study on behalf of or in the name of the recognised Institutions, and the terms 'franchise' and 'franchisee' shall be construed accordingly.2.9"Technical Education" means such education defined as per the AICTE Act, imparted by means of conducting regular classes or through Open and Distance Learning education systems (only wherever permitted by the AICTE), beyond ten years of schooling leading to a three year Diploma; or beyond twelve years of schooling leading to the award of a Diploma; or beyond Diploma leading to a Post Diploma Certificate; or beyond Graduation leading to a Post Graduate Certificate; or Post Graduate Diploma (as defined in the Approval Process Handbook).2.10"Learner Support Centre" means a centre established, maintained or recognised by the Institution for advising, counselling, providing interface between the teachers and the learners, and rendering any academic and any other related service and assistance required by the learners;2.11"Learner Support Services" mean and include such services as are provided by an Institution in order to facilitate the teaching-learning experience by the learner to the level prescribed by the AICTE in respect of a programme of study;2.12"Open and Distance Learning (ODL)" mode means a mode of providing flexible learning opportunities by overcoming separation of teacher and learner using a variety of media, including print, electronic, MOOCs, online and occasional interactive face-to-face meetings arranged by Institution through Learner Support Services to deliver teaching-learning experience, including practical or work experience.2.13"Programme" means a course or a programme of study leading to the award of a Diploma, Post Diploma Certificate, Post Graduate Certificate, Post-Graduate Diploma in an Institution;2.14"Prospectus" includes any publication, whether in print or electronic form, issued for providing fair and transparent information, relating to an Institution and Programmes, to the general public (including to those seeking admission in such Institutions) by the management of such Institutions or any authority or person authorized by such Institutions to do so;2.15"Self Learning Material" means and includes contents in the form of course material, whether print or electronic, which is inter-alia self-explanatory, self-contained, self-directed at the learner, amenable to selfevaluation, and enables the learner to acquire the prescribed level of learning in a course of study, but does not include text-books or guide-books;2.16"UGC" means University Grants Commission;2.17"Universities/Deemed to be Universities" mean Higher Educational Institutions declared to be University under UGC Act 1956.2.18"PPR" means Programme Project Report.PART - II Recognition of Institutions For Open and Distance Learning (Odl) Programmes
