UGC's new draft norms allow foreign universities to set up campus, decide fee, repatriate funds

By  India Blooms News Service   Jan 06, 2023

New Delhi/IBNS: New draft norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC), a body charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education in India, are set to allow foreign universities to set up campus, decide admission process, decide fees and repatriate funds to their parent campuses, media reports said.

The released draft says it will not allow the foreign universities to offer any programme of study that jeopardises the national interest of India or the standards of higher education in India.

The operation of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions shall not be contrary to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency, or morality, the draft added.

A few Europe-based universities have already shown interest in setting up campuses by foreign universities, said UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar releasing the draft on Thursday.

The similar liberal approach was earlier also taken by the then Congress-led UPA government but faced opposition from the now ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) besides the Left.