The University Grants Commission (UGC) has green lit a proposal for 18 State universities and higher educational institutions (HEIs) in Karnataka to engage in partnerships with foreign institutions to introduce twinning, joint degree, or dual degree programs.
Among the 18 institutions that have secured approval for collaboration with foreign universities are the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, University of Mysore, Visvesaraya Technological University (VTU), as well as private universities like Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University) and Christ (Deemed to be University).
The approved courses encompass a wide array of disciplines including psychology, nursing, engineering, information technology, biotechnology, law, human rights, arts and humanities, among others.
This initiative falls in line with the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), as the UGC has formally notified the University Grants Commission (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions to offer Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programs) Regulations, 2022, on May 2, 2022.
These regulations are designed to foster heightened academic collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions, aiming to elevate academic and research standards in Indian HEIs. The envisioned academic and research collaboration, alongside the mobility of students and faculty facilitated by joint degree and dual degree programs, is anticipated to propel Indian HEIs towards higher global rankings.
A twinning program involves a collaborative arrangement where students enrolled in an Indian HEI will split their studies between India and a foreign HEI, ultimately earning a degree from the Indian HEI.
For joint degree programs, the curriculum will be jointly crafted by the collaborating Indian and foreign HEIs. Upon program completion, both the Indian HEI and the collaborating foreign HEI will confer a degree with a single certificate.
Dual degree programs, on the other hand, will be jointly formulated and offered by Indian and foreign HEIs in the same disciplines/subject areas and at the same level. Graduates will receive degrees from both institutions simultaneously upon fulfilling the degree requirements of each.
However, the UGC imposes certain conditions for collaboration. Indian HEIs must obtain approval from their appropriate authorities, such as the Board of Governors/Board of Management/Syndicate/Executive Council, for academic collaboration with any foreign HEIs. Additionally, Indian HEIs are required to seek necessary approval from relevant statutory councils/bodies before entering into collaboration in technical, medical, legal, agricultural, and other professional programs.
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