UGC Issues Warning To Edtech Firms, Universities: No Foreign University Courses In India Without Commission's Approval

The University Grants Commission (UGC) intends to take action against universities and Edtech firms that provide online courses in collaboration with foreign universities without obtaining its prior approval.

The UGC issued a public notice stating that without its prior approval, no foreign higher education institution can offer any programme in India, and such programmes will not be recognised by the Commission.

Exercising its powers under the amended UGC Act, 1956, the Commission has notified two key regulations for foreign higher education institutions in India.

The first: University Grants Commission (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions to offer Twinning Programmes, Joint Degree, Dual Degree Programmes) Regulations, 2022; and the second University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.

The notice issued on 12 December clarified that the Regulations require every foreign Higher Educational Institution (HEI) to obtain prior approval from the Commission before offering any programme in India.

"The Regulations mandate that no foreign Higher Educational Institution (HEI) shall offer any programme in India without the prior approval of the Commission," the notice issued on said.

"The regulations also mandate that the HEIs shall not offer programmes under any franchise arrangement and that the UGC shall not recognise such programmes," it added.

UGC said it has been observed and has also been informed that many HEIs/colleges have entered into collaborative agreements/arrangements with foreign-based educational institutions/providers not recognised by the Commission and have been facilitating the issuance of degrees to the students enrolled in those institutions/college from such foreign-based educational institutions/educational providers.

"Any such kind of collaboration/ arrangement is not recognized by the University Grants Commission and accordingly the degrees issued subsequent to such collaboration arrangement are also not recognized by the Commission," it said.

Under the regulations, foreign higher education institutions must secure UGC approval before establishing a campus in India. Commission permission is mandatory for any foreign institution offering programmes in the country.

Moreover, the rules strictly forbid educational institutions from offering courses via franchise agreements.

The UGC has also issued a warning to EdTech companies that are partnering with foreign universities.

"It has also come to the notice of UGC that some EdTech companies are giving advertisements in newspapers, social media television, etc., offering degree and diploma programmes in online modes in association with some foreign universities/institutions," it said.

"Such a franchisee arrangement is not permissible, and any such programme/degree shall not have UGC recognition," the Commission said.

The Commission said that action will also be taken against all the defaulting EdTech companies as well as the HEls under applicable laws/rules/regulations.

"Therefore, students/general public are advised to exercise due caution and are made aware that such courses/programmes/degrees do not have UGC recognition and that they would be doing it at their own risk and consequences," the notification said.