The College Grants Fee launched draft laws for the popularity of overseas levels as high universities plan to set up department campuses in India for the primary time. 

Some are additionally exploring joint and twin levels with Indian companions. 

“With a purpose to facilitate the mobility of scholars in a seamless method, it’s essential to have a strong and clear mechanism for recognizing overseas {qualifications} and granting equivalence to such {qualifications},” the UGC wrote. 

“It’s anticipated that the mobility of scholars might be enormously enhanced on account of these reform measures.”

However overseas establishments hoping to supply on-line or distance levels to Indians moderately than establishing in-person applications might be upset, as these, alongside franchise preparations, won’t be recognised beneath the brand new tips. 

“On-line training goes towards the anticipated features of internationalisation,” stated Jandhyala Tilak, former vice-chancellor at New Delhi’s Nationwide College of Instructional Planning and Administration.  

“Overseas universities are inspired to arrange campuses in India not solely to extend the entry of Indian college students to overseas training but additionally to draw overseas college students to campuses in India. 

“On-line training negates this. Overseas universities could get discouraged to arrange campuses in India by being not allowed to supply on-line [or] distance training, however that won’t deter high-ranking overseas universities to come back to India if they’re in any other case .  

“On-line training goes towards the anticipated features of internationalisation”

“It issues solely within the case of mediocre universities which can have an interest to come back to India and to offer on-line training.”

Beneath earlier UGC laws, solely establishments within the high 500 in international rankings, both general or for particular topics, are eligible to arrange department operations in India.

{Qualifications} from overseas department campuses in India might be recognised so long as the campus is authorised by each the Indian authorities and the nation of origin. 

The educational applications on supply should additionally fulfill the accreditation necessities within the nation the place the offshore campus is situated, whether or not that’s India or one other overseas nation, as effectively the necessities of the nation of origin.

Indian establishments have additionally begun to arrange their very own offshore campuses, with India’s Nationwide Forensic Sciences College changing into the primary state establishment to launch overseas when it established its Uganda department in April.

{Qualifications} from Indian offshore branches might be recognised so long as the campus is authorised by Indian authorities and the host nation. 

The educational applications should additionally fulfill the accreditation necessities within the overseas nation through which the offshore campus is situated. 

An internet portal might be established for college students to use for grants of equivalence for {qualifications} obtained from overseas establishments. This might be obligatory for {qualifications} from a rustic the place there isn’t any current settlement with India on recognition. 

The fee can even recognise major and secondary college degree {qualifications} from overseas suppliers, so long as they’re recognised and authorised by the supplier’s nation, which may help India’s efforts to recruit worldwide college students to its establishments.

“Indian universities ought to attempt to get increasingly more overseas college students; presently they account hardly for 50,000 altogether in all universities in India,” stated Tilak.