With the latest decision by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), working professionals can now study courses in the fields of management, design, applied arts, planning, and hotel management while continuing with their employment.
The AICTE has decided to approve additional seats in institutions that teach such courses to accommodate working professionals. This regulation is included in the approval handbook (the guidelines for approving courses) for the period 2024–2027.
The new decision follows closely on the heels of permitting courses such as BTech, MTech, and diploma courses for working professionals. As a result, professional courses such as BBA, BCA, MBA, and MCA can be pursued by working candidates.
Any establishment affiliated with the AICTE can offer diploma, graduation, and postgraduation courses in these subjects. Additional seats of 60 for diplomas, 34 for graduation, and 15 for postgraduation will be allowed.
Institutions that qualify under any of the following conditions may apply for the seats:
- The institution should have had over 80% students in the past three years for the existing courses.
- Institutions which are on the list of Aspirational Districts under NITI Aayog.
- Institutions in Kashmir, Ladakh, or North Eastern States. This is in consideration of the need to augment higher education facilities in these areas.
Regulations
- The institutions can decide for themselves when the classes for working professionals are to be conducted. Classes can be conducted even after office hours.
- The syllabus will include theory and practicals. The syllabus for the course will follow the same pattern as for regular courses. They are not evening or part-time courses.
- The candidates will receive the same degree as granted to regular students.
- The conditions for admission can be decided by the States and Union Territories concerned.
Off-campus centres for autonomous colleges
The AICTE has also granted permission for technical education institutions to start off-campus centres within the jurisdiction of the university concerned. The permission is for those autonomous institutions that have been functioning for at least 10 years, are included in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking, and have at least half of the courses run by them accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). In addition, 80% of the total seats should have been filled in the past five years.