Punjab Technical University (PTU) has been a leading university in the country that is imparting quality education to the students. The university was granted the formal approval by the UGC-AICTE-DEC Joint Committee for all programs that are being offered through Distance Education program Mode. This approval came in the 35th meeting of the Committee that was held on 10th March, 2010 in New Delhi. It was stated that Distance Education courses and Online Education can be availed from everywhere and they would have no boundaries or state jurisdiction.
The Ministry of Human Resources, through its notification no 44, on date March 1, 1995, has clearly stated that all these courses are valid and all the qualifications awarded through Distance Education program by different universities automatically stand recognized for the purpose of employment in all state and state government establishments and also for higher courses.
To establish a better coordination among UGC, AICTE, and DEC, a Joint Committee of UGC-DEC-AICTE was formed by the MHRD. The MHRD also announced that it is mandatory for all universities to take formal approval from this Joint Committee of UGC-AICTE-SEC. All the universities offering Distance learning mode have been asked to submit fresh approval from this Committee.
Punjab Technical University, a state university recognized by the UGC, is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The university enjoys strength of over 3 lakh students and is busily offers Post Graduate and diploma courses in 10 disciplines. The various disciplines include IT, Management, Mass Communication, Biotechnology, Apparel and Fashion design, Hospitality and Journalism. Today, more than 288 colleges from all over the country are affiliated to PTU. The university imparts the Distance Education Courses through 1600 learning centers all over India.
According to the Vice Chancellor of Punjab Technical University Dr. Rajneesh Arora, the mission of PTU is to provide quality and standard technical education to the students through distance education programs. He said that the main challenge in accessing equality and quality in higher education in India can only be achieved through distance learning programs. These distance education courses enable the students to make easy access to quality self-learning material, and computer based tutorials. Learning Management System (LMS), personal learning programs at the learning centers and all this put together provides each and every student collaborative, placement-ready, and affordable learning. He added that the PTU is trying to achieve more heights in the field of education by preparing for accreditation of our DEP programs.
Dr. N. P. Singh, Dean EDP, PTU said that PTU has added various innovative inputs in the programs. According to him, the most important challenge is to conduct examination for the large number of students from all over the country. According to him, the PTU will be establishing technology centers at all the examination centers from where the questions would be delivered through the web without any human intervention. He added that the PTU is preparing to provide different question papers to the students sitting in the same examination hall. He said that we have ensured that adequate recourses are out to enhance the quality of the learning material and special emphasis will be laid to deliver non IT programs more effectively.
