‘Foreign universities in India must employ regular international faculty’: UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar
How will the UGC Regulation 2023 (Establishment and Operation of Facilities of Foreign Higher Education Institutions in India) make it easier to access foreign institutions?
Prior to that, there was no regulation allowing the establishment of a FHEI in India. For the first time, UGC introduced these regulations in the context of the larger internationalization of higher education as envisaged in National education policy, 2020. These regulations are intended to facilitate the entry of FHEI into India. FHEI in India will provide an international dimension to higher education, enable Indian students to obtain foreign degrees at a reasonable cost and make India an attractive study abroad destination globally. .
How are the regulations different from regulations in other countries and global practice?
The spirit behind these new regulations comes from NEP 2020. NEP advocates the preparation of a regulatory framework to facilitate entry of foreign universities with special exemptions in terms of regulation, governance, and content standards on par with those of other foreign universities. other autonomous organizations of India. The result is “light but tight” regulations for the entry of foreign universities in India.
The draft states that the faculty should be appointed within a reasonable period of time. What periodicity does UGC have?
FHEI must employ regular international lecturers instead of guest lecturers. Full-time lecturers from the main FHEI campus can come to the India campus for a semester or two or even longer, but as little as one semester.
Will FHEI Tuition and Enrollment Autonomy Affect India’s Private Universities?
Even in the case of central universities, the UGC does not prescribe a fee structure. The same is true for all other universities in India. NEP 2020 also recommends that the regulatory framework for FHEI should be on par with other autonomous organizations in India. Finally, students will go to institutions that provide affordable quality education. There will be healthy competition among higher education institutions in India.
How will the repatriation clause affect foreign facilities?
The repatriation model is based on Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. FHEI may establish a campus through a variety of pathways authorized by the Act. FHEI can form a company under the Companies Act 2013 or through the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2008 or as a joint venture with an existing Indian legal entity or establish a branch office in India . All are legitimate routes that allow FHEI to repatriate their funds.
Which universities have shown interest in establishing their operations in India?
UGC is in discussions with many universities to inform them of the new regulations and address questions. These regulations will generate great interest among universities.
