Bharathiar University's LSCs await UGC approval for programs

Bharathiar University's Learner Support Centres (LSCs) are currently waiting for approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to renew their registration for undergraduate (UG) programs. The Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) is in touch with the LSCs about this matter. There are around 40 LSCs located in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Erode, and Tiruppur. While they await the UGC's response, the university is looking to conduct postgraduate (PG) programs. The online UG programs, such as B.B.A., B.A. in English Literature, and B.Com, have been popular among students, especially during the June-July enrollment period. The university has faced financial challenges since the UGC imposed territorial restrictions on distance education programs. Currently, enrollment for all online and open distance learning programs is under 5,000. This is a significant drop from over 25,000 admissions before the restrictions took place. To meet expenses like staff salaries and other costs, Bharathiar University relies mostly on exam and affiliation fees. The university is now working hard to generate revenue through online and distance learning programs. For PG studies, options include M.A. degrees in English and Tamil Literature, M.A. in Economics, M.Com, M.B.A., and MCA. The university’s Syndicate has also noted student requests for lower fees for distance education. While fees were recently revised for a semester system, a reduction may be possible in the upcoming academic year based on student feedback.