On Thursday, the University Grants Commission revealed the draught regulations that will allow foreign universities in India to build campuses on Indian land for the very first time. These international colleges in India will also have complete control over the admissions process, tuition fees and other charges and cash repatriation.
Higher Education Institutions or HEIs and foreign universities in India would need permission from the University Grants Commission to establish their universities on Indian land, according to UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar. He also pointed out that any foreign universities in India that intend to build their campuses in India are allowed to offer only full-time training programmes in the traditional mode, and not in online mode or any form of distance learning.
It was also pointed out that any programme offered by these universities will not hamper the interest of India’s nationals or the standards of higher education in the country. The initial approval for setting up foreign universities in India will be valid for 10 years and if need be would be revived in the 9th year if certain conditions are met.
The drafted rules for ‘Setting up and operating campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in India,’ was released by The University Grants Commission or the UGC. Although the final rules have not yet been disclosed, they will be released after all interested parties provide their feedback, which is anticipated by the end of January, 2023.
The commission has proposed keeping the payments “fair and transparent,” even though these international universities in India will be free to set their own admission standards and fee schedule. The new National Education Policy 2020 or NEP 2020 envisions top universities from around the world working well in India. A legal framework will be made and followed to facilitate such entry. These international colleges in India will also be provided with special dispensation in governance, regulatory, and material norms on an equal level with India’s autonomous institutions.
The legal framework will allow higher-ranked foreign universities in India to improve the education system and make higher education a global component in India. It will also help by allowing Indian students to receive foreign degrees at a fair price and promoting India as a preferable place to study globally.
The Foreign Exchange Administration Act will be followed when it comes to money and funding. All the maintenance of Foreign Currency Accounts, mode of payments, repatriation, remittance, sale of proceeds, and any cross-border movement of funds must be in accordance with FEMA, 1999. These universities will have to submit an annual audit report stating that the functioning of the FHEIs in India conforms with the Act. However, all these international universities in India will face no restrictions for recruiting process, and they can hire staff and faculty members from anywhere in the world.
