Approval for PTU's distance education program by UGC-AICTE-DEC Joint Committee

Punjab Technical University (PTU) has been a leadingPunjab Technical University, a state university
university in the country that is imparting qualityrecognized by the UGC, is also a member of the
education to the students. The university wasAssociation of Indian Universities (AIU). The university
granted the formal approval by the UGC-AICTE-DECenjoys strength of over 3 lakh students and is busily
Joint Committee for all programs that are beingoffers Post Graduate and diploma courses in 10
offered through Distance Education program Mode.disciplines. The various disciplines include IT,
This approval came in the 35th meeting of theManagement, Mass Communication, Biotechnology,
Committee that was held on 10th March, 2010 in NewApparel and Fashion design, Hospitality and Journalism.
Delhi. It was stated that Distance Education coursesToday, more than 288 colleges from all over the
and Online Education can be availed from everywherecountry are affiliated to PTU. The university imparts
and they would have no boundaries or statethe Distance Education Courses through 1600 learning
jurisdiction.centers all over India.
  
The Ministry of Human Resources, through itsAccording to the Vice Chancellor of Punjab Technical
notification no 44, on date March 1, 1995, has clearlyUniversity Dr. Rajneesh Arora, the mission of PTU is
stated that all these courses are valid and all theto provide quality and standard technical education to
qualifications awarded through Distance Educationthe students through distance education programs.
program by different universities automatically standHe said that the main challenge in accessing equality
recognized for the purpose of employment in alland quality in higher education in India can only be
state and state government establishments and alsoachieved through distance learning programs. These
for higher courses.distance education courses enable the students to
 make easy access to quality self-learning material,
To establish a better coordination among UGC,and computer based tutorials. Learning Management
AICTE, and DEC, a "Joint Committee ofSystem (LMS), personal learning programs at the
UGC-DEC-AICTE" was formed by the MHRD. Thelearning centers and all this put together provides
MHRD also announced that it is mandatory for alleach and every student collaborative,
universities to take formal approval from this Jointplacement-ready, and affordable learning. He added
Committee of UGC-AICTE-SEC. All the universitiesthat the PTU is trying to achieve more heights in the
offering Distance learning mode have been asked tofield of education by preparing for accreditation of
submit fresh approval from this Committee.our DEP programs.