UGC draft guidelines: Foreign universities online degrees may become invalid in India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a fresh set of criteria for evaluating the equivalence and accreditation of degrees acquired from international universities.

These guidelines, issued by the higher education regulator, specifically target degrees obtained through online and distance learning methods, as well as those acquired through franchise agreements.

This strategic move comes at a time when foreign universities are progressively establishing campuses across various Indian cities.

Simultaneously, Indian universities are increasingly entering collaborations with global institutions to offer dual or joint degree programmes.

The UGC's draft regulations, named ‘Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2023,’ cover a wide array of elements.

These include globally relevant curricula, academic partnerships with foreign universities, and recognition of credits through twinning arrangements.

For input and feedback on these draft regulations, the UGC has invited suggestions from the stakeholders. Comments can be submitted via email (ugcequivalence@gmail.com) until September 16, 2023.

The draft guidelines lay out specific conditions for the recognition and equivalence of foreign qualifications.