University Grants Commission (UGC) The norms for offering dual degree, joint degree and twin degree courses have been relaxed for Indian colleges to collaborate with foreign higher education institutions. Such collaboration between Indian and international universities was first permitted in 2016, however, after only fewer takers for these courses, the UGC relaxed the process of collaboration.
Instead of the top 500, Indian universities can now offer collaborative courses with the top 1000 internal universities. Ranks will be considered according to the two most prominent rankings – QS and THE. From the India side, only those higher educational institutions that are either in 3.01 and NAAC scores or in the top 1000 QS/The rankings, and the top 100 universities in the NIRF ranking will be eligible for these collaborations.
Under the collaboration, students will be allowed to pursue their course in a foreign institution for a certain time period. While the upper limit of time spent on overseas campus is 30 percent for twin courses, dual and joining programs require a minimum time spent of 30 percent of the course’s duration.
In the case of a joint degree, the students will receive a degree from an Indian college along with a certificate from a foreign institution for the time spent on the said campus. In case of twin degrees, students will get the degree signed by both Indian and foreign institutions as per rules.
“At present there are 4 crore students in the Indian Institute of Higher Education. This number will soon reach 10 core students. While we continue to build institutions of higher learning, one of the many ways we can provide high quality education to students is to gain access to some of the best international courses while still being enrolled at home. We are confident that this will lead to “internationalisation” of higher education, said UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar.
Previously, if two universities had to cooperate, the process was elaborate, now the simplified approval process. No approval from UGC is required for institutes making the cut (as best ranked colleges).
It will allow foreign students to study in Indian colleges, as well as share foreign faculty, curriculum and best teaching practices among institutions, which, in turn, will lead to better ranking of Indian colleges, the UGC chairman said.
The UGC has asked colleges to keep fees within a ‘reasonable’ limit, however, no specific upper limit has been suggested so far. Detailed guidelines for these collaborations will be issued by the UGC soon.
These collaborations are applicable only for full time courses, courses offered in ODL and online mode are not allowed to offer these.
Through these regulations, students can stay at home and have access to high quality higher educational institutions and limit external foreign exchange to some of the best minds in the country.
Students will be offered an exit route as suggested in the NEP. So they leave if they leave the course midway they will get a certification. According to the NEP, those who leave the degree after one year should be awarded a certificate, those who leave after two years should receive a diploma, and so on.
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