UGC extends deadline to submit feedback on foreign campuses in India

University Grants Commission on Monday announced the extension of the last date to receive comments, suggestions, and feedback on the setting up of campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in India to February 3.

UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain in a Public Notice said that this is in continuation of the Public Notice issued by UGC earlier vide F. No. 1-3/2022(NEP) dated January 5, 2023, seeking comments from the stakeholders on the draft University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.

"In view of the requests being received from the stakeholders to extend the last date for submitting comments/suggestions/feedback on the aforesaid draft Regulations, the last date for receiving comments on the draft regulations is hereby extended to 3rd February 2023," UGC Secretary said.

Rajnish Jain further said that it is requested that the comments/suggestions/feedback may kindly be conveyed to ugcforeigncollaboration@gmail.com up to 3rd February 2023.

The University Grants Commission on Thursday notified the draft guidelines for establishing campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in the country in line with the NEP-2020 and invited suggestions and feedback from the public on the same.In line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, the Guidelines on Internationalisation of Higher Education in 2021, which included provisions like setting up an Office for International Affairs and Alumni Connect Cell in the Universities, have been notified, the UGC said in a release.

However, the programmes offered under these regulations will not be allowed in online mode, it said.

NEP 2020 has envisioned that "top universities in the world will be facilitated to operate in India." For this, "a legislative framework facilitating such entry will be put in place, and such universities will be given special dispensation regarding regulatory, governance, and content norms on par with other autonomous institutions of India," it said.

A regulatory framework allowing the entry of higher-ranked foreign Universities will provide an international dimension to higher education, enable Indian students to obtain foreign qualifications at affordable cost, and make India an attractive global study destination, the UGC said.

The guidelines, called, "University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023," aim to facilitate the entry of foreign higher educational institutions into India, it said."These regulations shall regulate the entry and operations of Foreign Universities/Institutions in India to conduct undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, post-doctoral, and other programmes and award degrees, diplomas, and certificates in all disciplines," the UGC said.

No Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) will be allowed to set up campuses in the country without the approval of the UGC, it said.

The foreign educational institution should be within the top 500 of overall / subject-wise global rankings, as decided by the Commission from time to time, in its home jurisdiction, it said.

The foreign institute has to ensure that the quality of education imparted by it in its Indian campus is at par with that of the main campus in the country of origin, the release said.

The qualifications awarded to the students in the Indian campus shall be recognised and treated as equivalent to the corresponding qualifications awarded by the FHEIs in the main campus located in the country of origin, the UGC said.

The comments/suggestions/ feedback from all stakeholders on the draft regulations may be sent to ugcforeigncollabration@gmail.com up to January 18, 2023, it said.