The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formulated new guidelines for “institutions of eminence”. This will allow a total of 10 institutions to admit extra foreign students, fix fees and collaborate with foreign educational institutions without seeking government approval.
The admissions will though be based on merit. A maximum of 30 per cent of the domestic student population can comprise international students, the UGC said.
“Academic collaborations with foreign higher educational institutions ranked in top 5OO in global rankings would be exempt from government approvals except with institutions from negative list of countries determined by the Ministry of External Affairs/Ministry of Home Affairs,” said a senior UGC official.
WHAT MORE AT OFFER
–These institutions can also offer new courses and degrees within the available courses and in new areas
–Flexibility to fix the course structure with regard to the number of credits and years to complete in order to be awarded a degree
— No eligibility criteria for private institutions
–Even sponsoring groups planning to set up new institutes can apply with their prospective plans
“The Institutions of Eminence shall have complete flexibility in fixing of curriculum and syllabus, with no UGC mandated curriculum structure. They will also have freedom to offer online courses as part of their programmes with the restriction that not more than 20 per cent of the course should be in online mode. However, this 20 per cent restriction would not preclude the institutions from offering certificate courses entirely through online mode,” the official said.
CONDITIONS APPLY
These institutions will be a mix of technical, management, arts and central institutions. To qualify for the list:
—They should figure among the top 50 as rated by the National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF).
— Will have to present a report on how they plan to achieve excellence over the next 15 years.
