#UGC unveils draft norms to allow foreign universities
RNS: Now foreign universities can set up their campuses in India. On Thursday University Grants Commission (UGC) has made public a draught of the norms that will be implemented to facilitate the establishment of campuses in India by educational institutions and universities located outside of India.
UGC announced the draft regulations for ‘Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India’ and the final norms will be notified by the end of the month after considering feedback from all stakeholders.
The draft rules (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India, Regulations 2023) is intended to regulate the entry and operations of Foreign Universities to conduct various degrees, diplomas and certificate programmes.
The norms give these institutions the freedom to decide their admission criteria and fee structures (reasonable and transparent), and stipulate a review period of ninety days. After receiving input from all relevant parties, the final rules will be communicated to the public by the end of the month.
A foreign educational institution with a good reputation in its home country or a foreign university that is ranked among the top 500 universities in the world may submit an application to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in order to establish a campus in India.
UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said that the foreign universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) would need a nod from the UGC to set up their campuses in India.
“The foreign universities with campuses in the country can only offer full-time programmes in offline mode and not online or distance learning,” he added.
Kumar further added, “The initial approval will be for ten years and will be renewed in the ninth year subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, and that these institutions will not offer any study programme that jeopardises India’s national interest or the standards of higher education in the country.”
