The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an advisory against individuals/organizations offering online programmes/courses with acronyms/abbreviated forms similar to the higher education system’s recognized degree programmes. One such programme to which the attention of the Commission has been drawn is ’10 Days MBA”.

In a public notice, the Prof Manish Joshi, Secretary of UGC informed that the nomenclature of a degree, including its acronym/abbreviated form, duration, and entry qualification, is specified by the UGC, with the previous approval of the Central Government, through the publication of a notification in the official Gazette.

Further, he said that only a university, established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act. or a State Act, or an institution deemed to be a university or an institution specifically empowered by an Act of Parliament, has the right to confer a degree.

Higher education institutions are also required to obtain approval from the UGC to offer any online degree programme in terms of the UGC Regulations.

Therefore, public have been advised to verify the validity of an online programme before applying or taking admission to any online programme. A list of recognized HEIs to offer online programmes and of permitted online programmes is available on www.deb.ugc.ac.in.