UGC Norms for Dual & Joint Degrees | 26 Apr 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the University Grants Commission has released Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions to offer Joint Degree, Dual Degree, and Twinning Programmes Regulations, 2022.

  • Under these regulations collaborating institutes will be allowed to offer three kinds of programmes — twinning, joint degrees and dual degrees.

What are the Key Points of the New Regulations?

  • Dual Degree Programmes: The approved amendments include a provision for “dual degree programmes” — both the Indian and foreign institutions will give separate and simultaneous degrees for a course of the same discipline, and at the same level.
  • Easing Regulation: Indian universities that meet a minimum academic standard will not need UGC’s permission to offer such programmes.
  • Joint Degrees: Students enrolling for these programmes will have to go abroad to earn credits, but they will not have to seek admission separately while doing so.
    • In the draft amendments, foreign partner institutions were required to be among the world’s top 1,000 in global rankings.
  • Dual Degrees: For dual degrees, students will have to complete at least 30% of their course credit at the foreign institution.
    • The degrees awarded by both the Indian and foreign institutions will indicate the credits earned at the respective institutions.
    • At the end of the course, the student will be awarded two degrees, separately and simultaneously, by the Indian and foreign institution.
  • Twinning Arrangement: A student can study a programme partly in India and partly in a foreign university, but the diploma or degree will be awarded just by the Indian university.
    • Students will have to complete up to 30% of the course’s credits at the foreign institution by means of an exchange programme.
  • Exception: The new regulations are not applicable to programmes offered online and in the open and distance learning mode.
  • Significance: The new regulation will prompt the Indian students to get a foreign degree and enhance their employability in international market.

What is University Grants Commission?

  • It came into existence on 28th December, 1953 and became a statutory body by an Act of Parliament in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in university education.
  • The head office of the UGC is located in New Delhi.

Source: IE