The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved academic tie-up for Indian and foreign higher educational institutions to offer dual and joint degree courses. Now the universities of the country will be able to offer dual, joint and twining type degree courses to the students in collaboration with the universities of any other country. UGC President M Jagadesh Kumar gave this information on Tuesday. He said the decision was taken at a meeting of the higher education regulator.
Who can do typeup and degree offer
Kumar said at a press conference here that any Indian institution recognized by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a minimum score of 3.01 or included in the top 100 in the University category of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) or an institution of excellence can be may also collaborate with a foreign institution that is ranked among the top 500 institutions of the Times Higher Education or ‘QS’ world ranking.
Rules not applicable on online, open and distance courses
He said that it would not require prior approval from the UGC and under this program the students would have to obtain more than 30 per cent ‘credit’ from a foreign institution. Kumar said, however, that the rules would not apply to programs that come under online and open and distance education mode.
CCSU students will be benefited by giving exemption of two degrees simultaneously by UGC
Franchisee not allowed
Kumar, however, clarified that no ‘franchisee’ arrangement or study center would be permitted between a foreign higher educational institution and an Indian higher educational institution under these rules.
What will be the rule of twinning degree
As per norms of twinning degree, students enrolled in Indian higher educational institution will be able to complete the course in foreign higher educational institution following UGC norms. Kumar said the degree awarded under such twinning courses would be awarded by an Indian institution.
Joint degree course rules
Kumar said the syllabus for a joint degree course would be jointly prepared by Indian and foreign higher educational institutions and on completion of the program the degree would be awarded by both the institutions with the same certificate.
Dual degree course rules
Kumar said that a dual degree program would be a program jointly designed and offered by Indian and foreign higher educational institutions with similar faculty and subject areas and at the same level.
Indian higher educational institutions shall obtain necessary approvals from the respective statutory councils and bodies before cooperating in technical, medical, legal, agricultural and other such professional programmes.
“The degree conferred under these regulations shall be equivalent to any relevant degree awarded by an Indian Institute of Higher Education,” Kumar said. There shall be no need to obtain equivalence from any authority and shall have all the benefits, rights and privileges to be derived in the case of a degree as would normally be in the case of a degree awarded by an Indian Institute of Higher Education.’
In accordance with the Academic Cooperation between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions to offer Dual, Joint and Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programs Regulations, 2022, which the UGC may notify in the coming week, students will be eligible for dual degree from Indian Institute of Technology. Must have earned at least 30 percent of the total credits from the institution.
Indian higher educational institutions shall obtain necessary approvals from the respective statutory councils and bodies before cooperating in technical, medical, legal, agricultural and other such professional programmes.
The UGC President said that the new rules will give Indian students access to high quality education through a collaborative mechanism in India itself.
He said, ‘It will take our higher education towards internationalization only while the students are in India. This will provide our students with a great opportunity to pursue multidisciplinary education through an internationally relevant curriculum. This will increase employment opportunities for them.
Kumar said that with this foreign students coming to India to study will also learn more about India, Indian culture, Indian society and this can promote cooperation between countries. According to Kumar, at least 40 million foreign students study in India and this number is expected to rise to 100 million.