The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced the draft regulations for the Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India for the first time. On Thursday, UGC unveiled the draft norms, under which these varsities can also decide on the admission process, and fee structure and repatriate their funds back home. This is a step with the National Education Policy, 2020, which envisages a legislative framework to allow top global universities to operate in India.
UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar stated that foreign universities and Higher Education Institutions will need a nod from the UGC to set up their campuses in India. He noted that foreign universities with campuses in the nation can only offer full-time programmes in offline mode and not online or distance learning. He added further that these institutions shall not offer any study programme that jeopardises the national interest of India or the standards of higher education here and clarified that the initial approval will be for 10 years and will be renewed in the ninth year subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The commission has suggested maintaining the fees fair and transparent, even if these universities will be free to choose their admission standards and price schedule.
The foreign institution will be free to hire faculty and employees from India and other countries in accordance with its hiring standards. But, they have to ensure that the foreign faculty appointed to teach at the Indian campus shall stay at the campus in India for a reasonable period. Interested institutes have to lay out a plan that in the case of a course or programme disruption or discontinuation or closure of the campuses, what will be the alternative arrangements to safeguard the interests of the affected students, including reallocation to the course or programme
There will be two types of foreign institutions that are qualified to apply for opening campuses in India: universities that have achieved a rating in the top 500 globally or by subject, or institutions that are well-regarded in their home country. UGC will constitute a standing committee to examine matters related to the setting up and operation of campuses of foreign institutions in India.
The draft rules for Setting up and operating campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in India were made public by the UGC on Thursday and the final rules would be released by the end of the month after taking into account comments from all interested parties.