The University Grants Commission (UGC) has not approved any Joint Degree between a foreign university and private institute in India.
The UGC has informed that the UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Education Institutions) Regulations, 2012 have been notified in order to ensure the quality and standards of higher education provided by foreign educational institution through collaborations, partnership, twinning arrangements with the Indian Higher Educational Institutions. According to these regulations, it is mandatory for any Indian Educational Institution (IEI) desirous of collaboration with Foreign Educational Institution (FEI) to seek approval of affiliating university prior to entering into any collaborative agreement. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has stated that the AIU policy for granting equivalence to such foreign degrees that have been awarded for studies undertaken in India, requires the educational institution to adhere to the UGC Regulation and/ or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) guidelines in this regard.
The question of following Foreign Educational Institution Regulations Act, 2012 does not arise as there is no such Act.
The UGC, AICTE and AIU are competent to take cognizance of educational malpractices and issue advisories to safeguard the interests of students.
This information was given by Union Minister of Human Resource Development Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha Question on 27th July 2015.
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