New Delhi: Indian universities and colleges can approach the UGC if they want to tie up with the foreign institutions but they have to ensure that the students pursuing such courses be provided the opportunity to study at least one semester for post-graduate degrees and two semesters for under-graduate degrees abroad.
At a meeting held Wednesday, the University Grants Commission (UGC) decided to amend the existing guidelines.
The latest move by the higher education regulator is seen as government's attempt to broaden the scope and quality of education in the country as well as creating an atmosphere of healthy competition.
As per the decisions, Indian institutes which get top accreditations will now be able to approach the UGC to seek its nod for entering into academic tie-ups with highly-rated education institutions abroad.
Under the previous norms, only foreign institutes were allowed to apply for academic collaboration with Indian counterparts.
"Today, the UGC has taken a decision as per which the highest graded Indian institutions can engage in academic collaboration with foreign educational institutions of highest grade in their country or those who have crossed the threshold limit," HRD minister Smriti Irani told reporters as she announced the decisions.
As per the new norms, the name of the foreign institute will also be mentioned on the degree certificate for such courses.
The norms, which will soon be notified, also specify a minimum degree of collaboration as per which at least one semester for post-graduate degrees and two semesters for under-graduate degrees have been specified.
A window of one year has been provided for institutes which already have a global partnership, to get their pacts approved by UGC, the HRD minister said.
A committee of experts will examine the proposals for these collaborations.
Irani said there have been instances where institutes fraudulently advertise collaborations with foreign institutions creating problems for students. It has been decided that the UGC will approach the state government concerned for action in such cases, she said.
The MoUs will provide sufficient autonomy to the institutions, officials said, adding that students from foreign institutions will also be allowed to come to Indian campuses under these norms.
Irani also said it will be ensured that within 30 working days all applications will be responded to and in a yes or no situation in 60 working days.
Officials said that guidelines for collaborations had been previously brought out in 2012 during the previous regime but they had not attracted any proposals.
PTI inputs
