HYDERABAD: Following the University Grants Commission’s declaration that distance education courses run by deemed universities such as the Institute of Advance Studies in Education (IASE), Vinayaka Mission and JRN Rajasthan Vidya Peeth are not valid, the AP State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has notified that the degrees awarded by these institutions are not valid.

Even as the Distance Education Council, which has given its nod for the courses, is an authority, the APSCHE officials maintain that in the wake of the AP High Court ruling (dated: December 12, 2009 on writ petition 22922), the distance education courses run by the above universities are invalid.

However, it clarified that the degrees awarded are valid for employment purposes if, and only if, UGC secretary, Member Secretary of All India Council of Technical Education and Director of Centre for Distance Education, duly sign them.

The APSCHE has also urged the managements of the professional colleges, universities, government departments and students to take note of it.