UGC to Expand Collaboration Between Indian & Foreign Institutions

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has reached out to over 500 international universities throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and East Asia in a significant push to expand collaborations between Indian and international institutions in higher education.

The commission is currently planning a meeting with the heads of India’s foreign missions to discuss the probabilities of tie-ups with recently notified rules on twinning programs, joint diploma, and twin diploma programs that will be applicable from the academic year 2022-23.

“We have also sent a list of eligible Indian universities with whom MoUs can be signed,” said UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar as quoted by The Indian Express. 

Start Your Study Abroad Journey with upGrad Abroad

According to the regulations, foreign institutes willing to collaborate must be ranked in the top 1000 in the Times Higher Education or QS rankings. Indian universities that match the same criteria or are ranked in the top 100 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) or have a minimum NAAC score of 3.01 are eligible.

Under the previous regulations, known as the University Grants Commission Regulations, 2016, a foreign and Indian college or university could collaborate to offer only “twinning” and “joint degree” programs, in which Indian students received a degree and a certificate from the foreign institute. However, they can now offer a third sort of curriculum, a “dual degree” program, in which both institutes will issue degrees.

Currently, the EdTech industry is in the booming phase wherein they collaborate with Indian and international universities that provide students with an option to adopt a hybrid approach to learning.