UGC to grant foreign degree equivalence; restricts online, distance mode and franchise agreement degrees
University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted guidelines for granting equivalence and for recognition of degrees obtained from foreign universities, restricting degrees obtained through distance and online mode as well as through any franchise agreement. The commission has also drafted norms for recognising qualifications obtained from schools affiliated to foreign boards as well as from offshore campuses of a foreign higher educational institution.
The norms come at a time foreign universities are in the advanced stages of setting up campuses in India's GIFT city and Indian universities are collaborating with institutions abroad to offer dual or joint degrees. The higher education regulator in its draft Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2023, has covered internationally relevant curricula, academic and research collaboration with foreign universities and credit recognition under twinning arrangements.
«Qualification obtained from a foreign higher educational institution shall be recognized and granted equivalence provided the qualification has been awarded by a foreign higher education institution that is duly recognized in its home country. »The student should have pursued the programme through regular, in-person instruction (and not through online or distance learning).
The entry-level requirements for admission to the programme should be similar to that of a corresponding programme in India," it said. The commission has noted that «similarity» of entry criteria will be determined through due process by the Standing Committee set up for the purpose based on similarity of minimum duration of the programme in India and the foreign
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