The amendment was made after the ministry of external affairs noticed that many applications from foreign students were being rejected due to either submission of expired passports or non-submission of passports.
UGC amends open, distance learning and online courses regulations, 2020 to attract foreign students
With an aim to attract more foreign students to enroll in the University Grants Commission-recognized online courses, the higher education regulator has released the UGC Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes Regulations, 2020. The amendment was made after the ministry of external affairs noticed that many applications from foreign students were being rejected due to either submission of expired passports or non-submission of passports.
The ministry had also urged UGC to consider ‘any national Identity with photograph’ and be exempted from the mandatory requirement of Passport to ease foreign students’ admission in India, as per reports.
As per the UGC amended regulations, “Provided that for admission of foreign or international learners through the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, in UGC recognised or entitled online programmes, any national identity with photograph of their country of residence shall also be acceptable for authentication.”
In April, the UGC had given nod to the guidelines on joint-degree, dual-degree and twinning programmes. With this, the higher education regulator also aims to facilitate academic collaboration between a foreign and an Indian higher education institution through which three types of programmes can be offered.
“These regulations may be called the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022,” the UGC said.
Earlier, the UGC had warned students against taking admission to the Digital University of Skill Resurgence in Maharashtra's Wardha. In an official notification, the UGC directed students that taking admission into such self-styled institutions may jeopardise their careers. As per the Higher Education regulator, the Digital University of Skill Resurgence is offering courses/programmes in gross violation of the UGC Act, 1956.
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