Section 2 in AICTE (Open and Distance Learning Education) Guidelines for Standalone Institutions, 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 year2.2"Act", means the AICTE Act, 1987;2.3"Standalone Institutions" means those institutions which are not affiliated to any of the Universities under the provisions of the UGC Act 1956, but are imparting education by means of conducting regular courses or through Open and Distance Learning systems, leading to Diploma, Post Diploma Certificate, Post Graduate Certificate and Post Graduate Diploma in Management and allied areas, Computer Applications and Travel & Tourism (as defined in the Approval Process Handbook of AICTE).2.4"Centre for Internal Quality Assurance" (CIQA) means a Centre as specified in Annexure I established by a Standalone 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" means an award of a Certificate/ Diploma 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 Standalone 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 Standalone Institutions, and the terms 'franchise' and 'franchisee' shall be construed accordingly;2.9"Technical Education" means such education defined as per AICTE Act, imparted by means of conducting regular classes or through Open and Distance Learning education systems (only wherever permitted by 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 Standalone 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" means and includes such services as are provided by a Standalone 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 Standalone 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 a Standalone Institution;2.14"Prospectus" includes any publication, whether in print or electronic form, issued for providing fair and transparent information, relating to a Standalone Institution and Programmes, to the general public (including to those seeking admission in such Standalone Institutions) by the management of such Standalone Institutions or any authority or person authorized by such Standalone 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" means Higher Educational Institutions declared to be University under UGC Act 1956;2.18"PPR" means Programme Project Report.PART - II Recognition of Standalone Institutions For Open and Distance Learning (Odl) Programmes
