UGC releases draft branch campus regulations

by | Jan 7, 2023 | International Education News

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The draft reiterates that establishments must be ranked inside the prime 500 in world rankings, both total or for particular topics.

Beyond rankings, the discover states that “reputed” establishments in house jurisdictions can even be eligible to ascertain campuses in India.

“These are well-thought and reflect the strategic priorities of India”

“We believe that once these regulations become operational, it will provide an international dimension to higher education in India,” UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar mentioned, as reported by Telanga Today.

“It will enable Indian students to get foreign qualification at an affordable cost beside making India an attractive global study destination.”

The preliminary National Education Policy 2020 had deliberate to permit top 100 universities to function in India, and has attracted some curiosity. A survey of the highest 200 THE-ranked establishments in 2021 discovered that eight would “definitely consider” a branch campus in India.

According to specialists, the regulations would make clear quite a lot of questions for increased schooling suppliers looking for to enter India, but some uncertainties stay.

“I think the proposals are in the right direction as they seem to target reducing administrative burden and streamlining the entire licensing process while setting standards to safeguard quality,” Vangelis Tsiligiris, affiliate professor at Nottingham Trent University and founding father of TNE Hub, mentioned.

“The current economic environment, with specific reference to the monetary tightening in western countries, may impact the development of new IBCs in India. However, other factors, such as a potential new pandemic outbreak that will impact mobility, may accelerate the creation of IBCs in India,” he informed The PIE.

International increased schooling marketing consultant William Laughton highlighted that IBC developments in India predate the NEC 2020 by “at least 11 years”.

In an article from 2012 written for the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, Laughton highlighted that the concept of permitting solely the finest 200 overseas universities to function in India – particularly round joint diploma packages – was floated in the 2009 Yashpal Committee Report.

“The proposals have been developing in the background for some time now,” Tsiligiris continued.

“These are well-thought and mirror the strategic priorities of India regarding the internationalisation of its HE sector. The key drawback stays the fragmented regulatory framework and the complexity of the Indian HE sector.

“For a foreign HEI, that is considering an IBC project, it is still extremely difficult to understand and evaluate the regulatory and operational risks.”

Speaking with The PIE, Delia Heneghan, vice chairman of Global Education Practice at Sannam S4, mentioned for the reason that appointment of a brand new minister of schooling 18 months in the past, there was “quite a lot of progress” and the “UGC has become quite active”.

“This is an excellent step forward and I do think it’s very promising. It’s part of that real commitment that the government has to push forward the agenda of the NEP,” she mentioned. But there’ll nonetheless be work to do.

Further session with key stakeholders will happen over the following month, earlier than the formal regulations come out. Key areas that should be addressed embody readability, repatriation of funds and infrastructure funding necessities, she instructed.

“The financial structures will be key for any university looking to set up a campus overseas to put together the business case. There’s lots of different ministries involved, lots of different regulatory bodies that will impact this, so there is still quite a bit of work to be done,” she mentioned.

Tsiligiris additionally pointed to components comparable to the reference to ‘reasonable and transparent fees’ which is topic to totally different interpretations, and the restriction on on-line and distance packages, which “may be regarded as barriers by foreign universities”.

The draft notes that worldwide campuses can’t supply on-line and ODL supply, and stipulates that {qualifications} awarded in India have to be “equivalent to the corresponding qualifications awarded… in the main campus located in the country of origin”.

“[UGC] wants to start off with a focus on face to face and doesn’t want to be simply looking at online or blended learning delivery,” Heneghan mentioned. “That’s an area where there might be further discussion… You can have fantastically high quality, online and blended experiences.”

The requirement for levels to be equal to these provided at house universities might trigger points, she instructed.

“If you take a look at the Graduate Route within the UK, if you happen to’ve studied on the campus within the UK and achieved your grasp’s diploma, it is possible for you to to get your graduate visa. If you research the identical course on the campus in India, that received’t essentially be the case.

“It’s not necessarily within the university’s gift to be able to say that that will be [equivalent]. It cannot be treated as equivalent in every way, but I think these things will be worked through.”

Asked whether or not latest recognition of qualification developments with the UK and Australia will favour establishments from the respective international locations, Heneghan – who has previously spoken of the significance of high quality hooked up to the NEP within the nation – pointed to 1 edge the UK might have.

“What gives UK universities an advantage is the existing reputation for quality, good employability, which is always very important to Indian students, but also the experience in delivering campuses overseas.”

“Lots of other countries are focusing on India”

Yet mutual recognition is a crucial factor in “building blocks that are coming together”, such because the financial institution of educational credit score, regulations permitting for collaboration provision, that are all “making India a far more open higher education sector” and is useful for worldwide cooperation.

“But lots of other countries are focusing on India,” she continued. “It’s not just what we would call the usual suspects such as Australia, the US, Canada, etc. but also many of the European countries are very engaged now and looking at deepening their engagement with India.”

Indeed, UGC’s Kumar famous that European international locations had been eager on establishing their universities’ campuses in India.

“But also what you’ve got to think about is other countries where there will be some sort of cross-border collaboration,” Heneghan mentioned.

“We’ve already seen that the IITs need to the Gulf the place they may arrange. There could also be some quid professional quo happening there…

“It’s a question of ‘watch this space’ and be ready to deepen engagement with India because this is now a real opportunity. I think that’s important to note,” Heneghan concluded.

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