Learning Outcomes based Curriculum Framework for Distance Learning Programmes for Achieving Quality Education

The achievement of quality education in India is a major concern for policy planners and practitioners. The need for learning outcomes in all modes of education has been enunciated in the National Education Policy(NEP) 2020. In the case of distance education programmes, UGC (ODL) Regulations 2017 make a strong thrust for achieving learning outcomes in higher education. The UGC Quality Mandate 2020 also includes a Learning Outcomes Based Curriculum Framework (LOCF). This paper reviews the NEP 2020 and UGC regulations 2017 with respect to learning outcomes, alongwith the experiences of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). It then proposes a model for designing a Learning Outcomes Based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) for distance learning programmes. The significance of an LOCF aims to lead towards maintenance of standards and equivalence of ODL programmes at both national and global levels for the achievement of quality education through ODL.