The basic objective of PCP is to impart a feel of class room learning and interaction with the faculty members. This helps establishing face-to face contact between university teachers and the students under distance learning mode. Thus its significance can’t be ignored. It is one of the key result areas of Distance Education learning program.

The PCPs are hardly successful because it is for 5 days per semester - the period is not sufficient.

Further, PCP certificates are issued to those who are not attending PCP as a part of malfunction.

Lack of good resource persons, inconvenient timings, inaccessibility of the centre’s where such PCPs are conducted and lack of seriousness on the part of the students as all of them are working persons are the reasons of failure of PCPs under distance learning mode.

Maybe this could help you : http://www.lpude.in/about_us/personal-contact-programme.php

Thank you very much for the wonderful answers from Dr K N Sheth and Dr Bruno

the main goal of PCP is good interaction, communication whenever, wherever researchers

Precise answer by Dr K N Sheth

Thanks to all RG members for their contribution

I agree with Dr Sheth. Also, the initiative to provide pedagogical support with the distance learning students is good and commendable. But, the lack of resources and the feasibility of travelling to such study-centres may be a drawback, especially for the working lot. With the affordability of the Internet today the institutions should consider a full online mode of distance learning.