India in collaboration with Foreign Higher Education Institutions are for offering Degree, Dual Degree and Twinning Programmes, the draft regulation for which was publicised on March 4, Thursday.
The Government called for feedback from the academia and all stakeholders and they can submit the suggestions/feedback until March 15. Feedback can be sent to ugcforeigncollaboration@gmail.com
Union Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said that the Government initiated several steps for the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020.
Twinning Arrangement
In Twinning Arrangement, the students enrolled with an Indian higher education institution may undertake their programme of study partly in India, complying with relevant UGC regulations, and partly in the foreign higher education institution. Under this arrangement, the higher education institutions in India will only provide degree or diploma. The credits earned by the students at a foreign education institution shall be counted towards the degree /diploma awarded by the Indian higher education institution.
Joint Degree programme
In the Joint Degree programme, Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions shall jointly design the curriculum. The Higher Education institution in the country and the collaborating foreign institution issue the Degree with a single Certificate bearing the crests and logo of both collaborating institutions. The students must earn at least 30 per cent of the total credits from each of the Indian and foreign higher education institutions. In case of a doctoral degree programme, the students must have a supervisor at each institution. However, the student shall submit a single thesis. Tuition fee is only for the residential period in the respective higher education institution.
Dual Degree Programme
Dual Degree Programme shall be degrees conferred by the Indian and foreign higher education institutions, separately and simultaneously, upon completion. The statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, guidelines and procedures of the respective higher education institutions under collaboration will govern it. The students must meet the admission requirements of both the Indian and foreign institutions and should apply separately to both the institutions. The students must earn at least 50 percent of total credits from the Indian institution
Conditions for Collaboration
- No programme of study and/or research shall be offered which is against the national security and territorial integrity of India
- The higher education institutions in India shall obtain approval of its Board of Governors/Board of Management/Syndicate/Executive Council for collaboration with any foreign higher education institution
3 The higher education institutions in the country shall abide by the norms prescribed by the Government of India
4 Academic infrastructure, including laboratory, library and workshop facilities of institutions should meet the requirements of the relevant professional Statutory Councils/ Bodies;
5 The institutions should enter into a written Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement with its partner foreign higher education institution(s).
6 The academic requirements and other details of the programmes of study to be offered under collaborative arrangements should be made public
7 Wherever foreign exchange is involved, the higher education institution (Indian and foreign), shall abide by and comply with the relevant Regulations, Norms, Notifications and Instructions issued by the Reserve Bank of India and Government of India from time to time;
Eligibility and Procedure for collaborations:
Collaboration between Indian and foreign higher education institution is permitted through two modes – Automatic mode and Approval mode
Automatic Made
The collaborating higher education institutions must be accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAA with a score of 3.01 on a 4-point scale. Other, it should figure in the 100 in University category of National Institutional Ranking Framework. For foreign higher education institution, it should figure in too 500 of Times Higher Education or QS World University ranking
Approval Mode
Foreign higher education institution should be accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency in their homeland. Specialised institutions, if not accredited, may be considered if they have some demonstratable accomplishments
The Degree or Diploma awarded under these Regulations shall be equivalent to any corresponding degree or diploma awarded by the Indian Higher Education.
The draft notification is here for submitting suggestions.
