UGC Guidelines for Academic Collaborations between Indian and Foreign Institutes
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Students can have more options with foreign universities offering their educational programmes in India, but it’s important to be well informed and avoid any fake promises and traps. UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaborations between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutes) Regulations 2012 have been issued on September 25 with an aim to protect students’ interests.
According to UGC Regulations, Indian institutes with grade B accreditation are allowed to enter into collaboration with foreign educational institutions. However, for foreign institutions to enter into partnerships, they should be accredited with the highest grade in their homeland and allowed to have twinning arrangement with the concerned Indian institutes.
“At the time of agreement for collaboration, Indian educational institution shall have accreditation by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a grade not less than B or its equivalent grade,” the UGC notification said. Indian educational institutions that already have a collaboration arrangement will also have to comply with these fresh regulations within a period of six months. Such Indian institutes should also have an experience of at least five years of offering degrees and post-graduate diplomas. Violation of rules could lead to termination of the MoU entered into for collaboration and even blacklisting, the notification said.
Currently, around 50 foreign institutes are operating in India through twinning arrangement. “Twinning programmes means a programme of study whereby students enrolled with an Indian Educational Institute may complete their programme of study partly in India and partly in the main campus of Foreign Educational Institutes in it’s home country in which it is primarily established or incorporated."
Technical institutes do not come under the purview of the new regulations and government institutes will receive exemption from accreditation for the purpose of these regulations.
