The University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled two draft guidelines under the title “Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions Regulations 2023” for public feedback and comments. These proposed norms arrive at a pivotal juncture when foreign universities are establishing campuses within India’s GIFT city, and Indian educational institutions are fostering collaborations with international universities, thereby offering dual or joint degrees.
Historical Background
The groundwork for a cohesive national education system in India was laid by the Sargeant Report in 1944. This seminal report recommended the establishment of a University Grants Committee, founded in 1945, to oversee existing universities at the time. This committee later evolved into the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. The University Education Commission, set up in 1948 under Dr. S Radhakrishnan, proposed the restructuring of the UGC along the lines of the United Kingdom’s University Grants Commission. Maulana Abul Kalam inaugurated the UGC formally in 1953, and it gained statutory status in November 1956 through the UGC Act 1956. Currently, the Indian government is contemplating replacing the UGC with a new regulatory body called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).
Dual Mandate: Funds and Standards
The UGC’s role is unique as it functions both as a grant-giving agency and a standards-setting body in India. It operates with a dual mandate, which encompasses providing financial support and coordinating standards across higher education institutions. Its key functions involve promoting and coordinating university education, ensuring quality in teaching, examination, and research, framing regulations on education standards, monitoring collegiate and university education developments, disbursing grants, and facilitating communication between central and state governments and academic institutions.
Draft Guidelines: Navigating International Collaborations
The draft guidelines cover a broad spectrum of areas including internationally relevant curricula, academic and research partnerships with foreign universities, and credit recognition through twinning arrangements. The proposed regulations stipulate that qualifications from foreign higher educational institutions (HEIs) will be recognized and granted equivalence if the awarding institution is duly recognized in its home country. The program should have been pursued through in-person instruction rather than online or distance learning. Admission criteria for the program must mirror those of similar Indian programs, a similarity determined by a committee based on factors such as program duration, credit requirements, and evaluation processes.
However, these regulations will not extend to professional qualifications in disciplines like Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Law, and Architecture that are awarded by foreign institutions.
Significance and Implementation of the Guidelines
The draft guidelines carry significant implications as they restrict recognition of degrees acquired through distance learning, online platforms, franchise agreements, and from schools affiliated with foreign boards. To streamline the transition of students into the Indian education landscape, an exclusive online portal will be introduced to process applications seeking equivalence. The resultant equivalence certificate will vouch for the comparability of a foreign qualification with its Indian counterpart, paving the way for admissions to Indian universities and employment opportunities.
Challenges
There are certain apprehensions surrounding the draft guidelines. They could potentially conflict with a gazetted notification that currently designates the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as the authoritative entity for awarding equivalence to foreign degrees. Critics argue that the UGC should prioritize establishing equivalence for Indian degrees first. There’s a call for degrees issued by Indian universities under Section 22 of the UGC Act to be universally acknowledged as equivalent by all state governments, which could potentially alleviate challenges faced by graduates from Indian institutions.
UPSC Mains Questions
- How might these draft guidelines impact the growing trend of foreign universities setting up campuses in India and Indian institutions collaborating with international counterparts?
- How does the introduction of an online portal for equivalence applications enhance the mobility of students holding foreign qualifications within the Indian education system?
- What challenges and conflicts might arise due to the overlapping authority between the UGC’s proposed guidelines and the current role of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in awarding equivalence?
- What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of prioritizing the establishment of equivalence for Indian degrees before addressing foreign qualifications, as suggested by critics of the draft guidelines?
