UGC Restricts SHUATS from Offering Distance Learning Programmes

University Grants Commission (UGC)'s Distance Education Bureau has debarred the deemed University - Sam Higginbottom University Of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences which is formally also known as SHUATS and Allahabad Agricultural Institute from offering open and distance education programmes for a period of at least four years.

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According to a UGC circular, the reason for taking this action is that the Allahabad Agricultural Institute has continuously been violating the guidelines, norms, directives and regulations framed by UGC, specifically those that were addressing the territorial jurisdiction policy in 2016.

Thus, UGC has decided to reject the SHUATS recognition of Open and Distance Learning mode programmes for a period of four years i.e. from the academic session year 2016-17 to 2019-20. UGC has also ordered not to allow any student to enroll in its Open and Distance Education programme during this debarred period.

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Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences - Deemed University (SHUATS) was established in 2016 under UP Act No. 35. The Uttar Pradesh Legislature after considering the availability of quality teaching and non-teaching staff and other necessary infrastructure facilities in Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences (SHIATS) decided to enhance, recreate and establish SHIATS as a University under the Uttar Pradesh Act to make sure to enhance the successive development of Agricultural Research, Education, Extension, Technology, Science and other disciplines. This Allahabad-based university offers eleven diploma programs, forty-eight postgraduate programs, twenty-eight undergraduate programs and doctorate courses in various courses.