University Grants Commission (UGC) approves a new set of guidelines that only global top 500 universities by the Times Higher Education World University Ranking or by Shanghai Jiaotong University will be allowed to start their operation in India. The new guidelines set the norms for the foreign universities aspiring to enter into agreement with Indian universities for offering education programmes in India.
The Indian universities, on the other hand, should be those which have received the highest accreditation grade for collaboration with its foreign counterparts. Besides this, for the benefit of the students the degrees will be awarded only by the Indian universities for their acceptability in Indian market. Institutes who fail to abide by the guidelines would be panelised including which also includes stoppage of grants from the UGC. The reason behind releasing of new guidelines is the rising concerns among the educationists in the country over the quality of foreign institutions which is tying up with Indian colleges offering separate education programmes.
According to a senior UGC official, foreign educators prefer to have educational tie-ups with India due to two major benefits i.e. least stakes and maximum income. Indian students, on the other hand prefer these kinds of courses because the total cost is less in exchange for a foreign degree and international exposure.