UGC approves regulations for dual, joint, twinning degree programmes with foreign universities

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) approved regulations for dual, joint, and twinning degree programmes with foreign universities today, April 19 through a virtual meeting. UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said in a virtual meeting that on February 1, 2021, a proposal for regulatory mechanism to permit these three kinds of programmes was made and UGC formed a committee which looked into all aspects on promoting collaboration between Indian and international higher education institutes (HEIs). The committee prepared draft regulations which were put up for public feedback on UGC website. After considerations from public feedback, the regulations were finalised. These regulations were approved today in UGC meeting, Kumar informed.

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In the case of twinning programmes - An Indian HEI can collaborate with a foreign HEI and a student can physically visit the foreign institution, stay there for a semester or two and obtain the credits up to a limit of 30% of the total credits required for a given programme. Even a foreign student can visit Indian institute and obtain 30% credits. This will provide a great opportunity for Indian students to study in a foreign country while getting the degree from an Indian institution. The foreign institution will give students a certificate for the 30% of the credits obtained from their university, Kumar informed.

Talking about joint degree programmes, Kumar said that Indian and foreign higher educational institutions will have to sign an agreement to establish this collaboration. Students will have to do more than 30% of the credit requirements of their degree programmes. In this case too, the degree will be given by Indian institutions while the foreign institution will provide a certificate for the credits done.

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Whereas in the dual-degree programmes, the degrees will be given by both Indian and foreign institutions, UGC chairman said. The students will get two degrees by obtaining more than 30% of the total credits at Indian and foreign colleges or universities.

“The issue of allowing the students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously has been examined by the Commission keeping in view the proposals envisaged in the National Education Policy - NEP 2020 which emphasizes the need to facilitate multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes,” UGC said about dual-degree programmes.