Chandigarh, Jan 19: The Punjab Higher Education Department has officially greenlit the participation of private entities in the digital education sector, allowing students to obtain full degrees from the comfort of their homes.
Following the notification of the “Punjab Private Digital Open Universities Policy” on January 15, the state becomes a pioneer alongside Kerala in authorizing private-sector digital-only higher education.
These institutions are designed to function without traditional physical classrooms, utilizing virtual laboratories and digital assessments to deliver undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Administrative Secretary of Higher Education Anindita Mitra noted that the primary aim is to offer comprehensive training and research through technology-enabled systems that remove the physical distance between teachers and students.
“The broad objective of a private digital open university is to provide teaching and training in higher education through digital, online, distance, or open modes,” Mitra said.
To qualify for a license, private players must demonstrate a track record of at least five years in the online education industry. Financial requirements include a Rs 20 crore corpus fund and an initial processing fee of Rs 5 lakh.
Upon approval, an additional Rs 20 lakh must be paid to the state government.
The policy clarifies that while these universities must have a physical presence, those sites are restricted to back-office and administrative functions.
“The digital university will have physical campuses, but these will be used as ‘headquarters’ for administrative purposes only; no classes shall be held on campus,” the policy document mentioned.
To ensure the local population benefits from this digital shift, the government has reserved 15 per cent of all seats for learners with Punjab domicile. The state has also implemented a deterrent against non-compliance, stating it may impose penalties as high as Rs 25 lakh for any violation of UGC norms or state-mandated regulations.
