Delhi University to allow students to complete a semester at a foreign university

NEW DELHI: Delhi University will discuss allowing students to complete one semester from a similarly-ranked foreign university, according to the recommendations of a committee formed to frame ‘twinning arrangement’ modalities with foreign universities.

The committee also recommends that undergraduate students from 2022-23 batch onwards can be allowed to pursue their third, fifth or seventh semester from a foreign university.

The recommendations will be tabled in the Delhi University Academic Council on December 27. These recommendations are in line with the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations for ‘twinning programmes’ with foreign universities which is mentioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Delhi University: Twinning degrees

According to the recommendations, the ‘twinning arrangement’ can only be agreed with a university that has comparative or higher ranking when compared to Delhi University in the Times Higher Education(THE) Rankings and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. In case, the foreign university has a lower rank, DU might also consider the subject rank of the university for which the students are applying.

Also read the UGC guidelines on prior learning

Once DU signs an agreement with the foreign university, students will be allowed to participate in research projects, internships and even spend one semester at the foreign university. A student can earn a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 26 credits through the twinning arrangement.

As per the recommendations, DU will also set up an Academic Experts Committee to map the credits with the foreign university. In case a student fails the semester at the foreign university, credits will be awarded to the students as recommended by the Academic Experts Committee following their discussion.

The credit mapping, where in the modalities of transferring credits based on the syllabus, will be decided prior to the signing of the agreement with the foreign university.

The committee has recommended that DU support “one or two meritorious students” from economically-weaker backgrounds to pursue their semester abroad. Delhi University will be looking at its alumni and corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to provide support for these students.

An “objective criteria” will also be formed to decide on selecting students from such backgrounds.