UGC ,Students enrolled in generally offered programs will be able to earn a specific percentage of course credits, depending on the type of program, at a foreign university. The amendments will allow them to have study abroad experience while taking a course in India.
RELAXING rules on academic cooperation between Indian and foreign universities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved key amendments on Tuesday, including a provision for a “program dual degree” – both Indian and foreign institutions will award separate and concurrent degrees for a course in the same discipline and at the same level.
The amendments also limit the supervisory role of the regulator in facilitating such cooperative activities. Indian universities that meet the minimum academic standard will not need permission from UGC to offer such programmes.
Announcing the decision, UGC President Jagadesh Kumar said co-operative institutes would be allowed to offer three types of programs – twinning, associate and dual degrees. While the first two programs were allowed even under the old regulations, there were very few participants, he said. Sources say this is due to excessive regulations.
UG grants dual degree
Students enrolled in these programs will need to travel abroad for credit, but they will not have to apply for separate admissions in doing so. However, the new rules do not apply to programs offered online and open and distance learning.
For a dual degree, students must complete at least 30% of the course credits at the foreign institution. Degrees awarded by Indian and foreign institutions will indicate the credits earned in the respective institutions.
Courses must be of the same discipline and level. For example, a student enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in history at an Indian university may pursue part of his or her coursework at a foreign institution. At the end of the course, students will be awarded two degrees, separately and simultaneously, by Indian and foreign institutions.
This should not be construed as two degree programs in separate disciplines or fields at two different levels, UGC clarified. This means that a BA in English and a BA in Physics, or a BA in Mathematics and a Master in Biology, will not be permitted under this agreement.
Under the twinning agreement, a student can study a program partly in India and partly at a foreign university, but the diploma will only be issued by the Indian university. Students will have to complete up to 30% of the course credits at a foreign educational institution through an exchange program. The same will apply to foreign students enrolled in a similar program. Under this agreement, credits earned at a foreign institution will be counted towards the degree/diploma awarded by the Indian institution.
Offical take on the decision taken by UGC.
In the associate degree program, the curriculum is designed by the partnering institutions and the degree is awarded by the Indian university. On the other hand, the partnering foreign university will provide a certificate bearing the logos of both institutions at the end of the program. The two partner institutions will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop the course content. Indian students will be required to complete more than 30% of their course credits at an overseas institution.
Kumar said the revised regulations – named University Grants Commission Regulations (Academic cooperation between Indian and foreign higher education institutions for the delivery of degree programs) joint, dual and dual), 2022 – to be announced soon
Under the old setting, if an Indian and foreign higher education institution were to cooperate, the UGC had to be “satisfied” with the arrangement after a thorough vetting process. This includes the review of memorandums of understanding between the chambers to the issuance of letters of approval or rejection.
The new amendments exempt institutions from having to apply for UGC certification as long as the Indian partner institution is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a minimum score of 3.01 on a scale of 4.00 or among the top 100 universities in the National Institutional Rankings Framework. The foreign partner institutions must be among the top 1,000 in the world in the Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings.
However, in the case of professional programs in areas such as engineering, medicine and law, approval will always be required from boards or statutory bodies such as AICTE, the National Health Commission and Bar Council of India.
The UGC made the draft regulation public a year ago in February 2021. It subsequently established a committee to edit the regulations
In the draft amendment, the country partner organizations must be among the 500 best institutions in the world. The amendments passed Tuesday lift that number into the top 1,000 of the world rankings. When asked about the change, Kumar said, “The increase in bandwidth is just for the purpose of allowing more institutions to join together and provide more choices for students.”
“Currently, we have around 4 million students in Indian higher education institutions, but this number will increase over time.” Kumar said.
University Grants Commission (India)
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