At a meeting held on 22 June, the University Grants Commission has decided to amend the existing guidelines for Indian educational institutions that enter into academic tie ups with foreign institutes.
As per the new norm, the institute will have to ensure that students who opt for these courses will study at least one semester for post-graduate degrees and two semesters for under-graduate degrees, abroad.
As per the previous version of the norm, only foreign universities were allowed to seek permission for academic collaborations, but now, Indian institutes which get top accreditations will also be able to approach UGC to seek permission for such tie ups.
"Today, the UGC has taken a decision as per which the highest graded Indian institutions can engage in academic collaboration with foreign educational institutions of highest grade in their country or those who have crossed the threshold limit," said the HRD ministerSmriti Irani, while announcing the decision to the reporters.
According to the new norms, the name of the foreign institute will also have to be mentioned on the degree certificate for such courses.
The norms, which will soon be notified, also specify a minimum degree of collaboration as per which at least one semester for post-graduate degrees and two semesters for under-graduate degrees have been specified.
The HRD minister also notified that a window of a year has been given to institutes with existent tie ups globally, to get their pacts assessed by the University Grants Commission. A committee of experts will come together for examination of the proposals made for the collaborations.
Smriti Irani said that many instances have been sighted instances where institutes fraudulently advertise collaborations with foreign institutions creating problems for students. It has been decided, in the meeting, that the UGC will approach the state government concerned for taking immediate action in such cases, she said.
The Minister also said that the applications regarding the issue will we be responded to within 30 working days and whether the permission has been granted or not will be informed in 60 working days.
The officials stated that guidelines for collaborations had been already brought out in 2012 but had not attracted any such proposals. They also said that under these norms sufficient autonomy will be granted to the institutes and students from the foreign institutions will also be welcomed to Indian campuses.
Tags: Foreign University India
Smriti Irani
Ugc
Foreign University
Tie Ups
Indian Institutions
