New Delhi: The University Grants Commission has notified the UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2016, with a view to increasing synergy between Indian and foreign academic institutions, to offer students additional choices, improved curriculum and the delivery of knowledge and educational content. The guidelines are in supersession of UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012.
The guidelines supersede the UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012.
In a written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for HRD Mahendra Nath Pandey stated that, as per the new directives, Indian universities and colleges with the highest grade of accreditation or threshold accreditation, and conforming to the other eligibility conditions as laid down in the regulations, can apply online to the UGC for starting twinning arrangement with quality Foreign Educational Institutions (FEI) having the prescribed standard.
The degree will be awarded by Indian institutions alone. Joint degrees are not permitted.
The regulations provide for a time-bound processing of online applications by the UGC. The portal for academic collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions is ready to be launched shortly. The regulations are available here.
The new amendments were notified on 11 July. It is early to assess the response. It was announced on 3 June by the government that the centrally sponsored scheme of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan will provide support for engagement of academics from leading foreign Universities with State Universities for curriculum and pedagogical reforms.
