New Delhi, 08 November: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday announced rules for setting up and running campuses of foreign universities in India.
According to the Establishment and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India Regulations, 2023, foreign universities can collaborate to set up campuses in India, provided they individually meet the eligibility criteria.
Campuses of foreign universities in India will have the autonomy to recruit faculty and staff as per their recruitment criteria. Foreign university campuses in India will not be able to provide online courses, distance education. Foreign universities setting up campuses in India must obtain prior permission from the UGC before starting new courses. Foreign universities cannot open teaching centres, study centers or franchises of the parent entity in India.
Foreign university campuses receiving or using foreign contributions in India must obtain prior permission under the FCRA.
A foreign higher educational institution desirous of setting up a campus in India must, at the time of application, be ranked within the top five hundred institutions in the overall category of the global ranking determined by the Commission from time to time or must have been ranked within the subject-wise category of the global ranking at the time of application. Must have been ranked within the top five hundred institutions in the IIT or have excellent expertise in a particular field as decided by the Commission from time to time.
In case of two or more foreign higher educational institutions wishing to collaborate for setting up a campus in India, each foreign higher educational institution must satisfy the eligibility criteria.
With regard to the process of approval, the Regulations provide that if a foreign higher educational institution desires to establish more than one campus, it shall make a separate application for each campus to the Commission under the procedure laid down in these Regulations.
After satisfying the eligibility criteria, the foreign HEI shall apply online to the Commission along with a non-refundable processing fee as decided by the Commission from time to time.
Foreign Higher Educational Institution Application for setting up a campus in India with permission from the Governing Body or Board, by whatever name called, proposed location, infrastructural facilities, fee structure, academic programmes, courses, curriculum, availability of faculty and upload the details of availability of financial resources for establishment and operations of the campuses in India and any other details on the portal of the University Grants Commission.
An undertaking to the effect that the quality of education imparted by it at its Indian campus is equivalent to that being imparted at its main campus in its country of origin, and that the degrees awarded to students at the Indian campus are The recognition and status will be the same.
The Commission will constitute a Standing Committee to examine matters relating to the establishment and operation of campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in India. The foreign higher educational institution will decide the fee structure, which will be transparent and fair.
The foreign HEI shall make available on its website the curriculum brochure containing the fee structure of various programmes, refund policy, number of seats in a programme, eligibility criteria, and admission process, at least sixty days before the commencement of admission.
Based on the evaluation process, the foreign HEI may award full or partial merit-based or need-based scholarships from funds such as endowment, alumni donations, tuition revenue and other sources. Foreign higher education institutions may grant tuition fee waiver to students who are Indian citizens.
Regarding appointment of faculty and staff and other related provisions, it has been said that the foreign higher educational institution will have the autonomy to recruit faculty and staff as per its recruitment norms in India and abroad.
The foreign higher educational institution may decide the qualifications, salary structure, and other conditions of service for the appointment of faculty and staff.
However, the foreign HEI shall ensure that the qualification of the faculty appointed is equivalent to that of the faculty appointed at the main campus in their home country.
The foreign higher educational institution will ensure that international faculty appointed to teach on the Indian campus stay in India for at least one semester.
