The UGC unveiled draft regulations, paving the way for foreign institutions to establish campuses for the first time in India. These universities will also be able to control the admissions procedure, the cost of attendance, and the repatriation of their cash.
UGC chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar stated that foreign universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) 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 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 draught rules for “Setting up and operating campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in India” were made public by the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the final rules would be released by the end of the month after taking into account comments from all interested parties.
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.
