New Delhi: In case of twinning programmes arranged with foreign universities/institutes, only the Indian Educational Institutions (IEIs) will award the degree while joint degrees are not allowed as per the new the UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2016. This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey today (21 November 2016) in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the said regulations with a view to increasing synergy between Indian and foreign academic institutions, to offer students additional choices, improve curriculum and the delivery of knowledge and educational content, said Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey.

As per the new regulations, Indian Universities and Colleges, having the highest grade of accreditation/ threshold accreditation, and conforming to other eligibility conditions as laid down in the regulations, can apply online to the UGC for starting twinning arrangement with quality Foreign Educational Institutions (FEI) having the prescribed quality. The regulations provide for time-bound processing of the online applications by the UGC. The portal for academic collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions is ready to be launched shortly.

The minister also informed that on 03 June 2016 the Government decided that the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) will provide support for engagement of academics from leading foreign Universities with State Universities for curriculum and pedagogical reforms.