Calicut University to Introduce Online Courses from January

Quick Summary

• Calicut University (CU) plans to launch online undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses starting January 2026.
• The university had aimed to introduce nine UG and PG courses by October but missed the deadline for UGC approval, which onyl permits launches in january or July each year.
• Officials stated that efforts are underway to secure UGC permission for the January 2026 launch after procedural delays prevented completion by July 2025.
• The Center for online and Distance Education stopped offering 25 distance education courses due to competition from Sreenarayanaguru Open University, causing significant revenue losses.
• Thousands of students from northern Kerala districts where reportedly impacted when CU discontinued its UGC-approved programs; officials pledged a shift toward online course offerings.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The proposed introduction of online UG and PG courses by Calicut University reflects a strategic pivot in response to earlier challenges faced with its discontinuation of 25 distance learning programs.While this new initiative may help alleviate student hardships, especially for those in northern Kerala who previously depended on such services, the delayed rollout underscores structural procedural setbacks that educational institutions sometimes encounter under regulatory frameworks like those of the UGC.

Moreover, reopening opportunities via online platforms could bolster CU’s competitiveness against other universities offering similar programs while also addressing its reported substantial revenue losses. If implemented effectively by early 2026 as planned, these courses could mark an vital step toward modernizing higher education access in Kerala through technology-driven solutions.

Read more: Published September 06,2025