UGC Paves Way for IoEs to Set Up Campuses Abroad; Know Details Here

University Grants Commission (UGC) after receiving a no objection certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs has amended its new regulations permitting to set up campuses of Institutions of Eminence (IoEs) in foreign countries.

This initiation has been done with the government's new National Education Policy (NEP), in which it is mentioned that the institutions /universities performing well must be encouraged to set up their campuses abroad.

UGC's amendments also allows the IOEs to introduce 3 new campus centres in 5 years and not more than 1 in an academic year.

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There are a total of 18 Institutions of Eminence including four IITs, which are

IIT-Kharagpur, IIT-Madras, IIT-Bombay, and IIT-Delhi. As per the amendments to the UGC regulations 2017, these Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities will be allowed to set up the campuses abroad only with the approval of the Ministry and a no objection certificate from the Ministry of External & Home Affairs.

It has been notified that these IOEs set up abroad will have to follow the norms and standards that are maintained on the main campus for the courses, admission criteria, examination system, curriculum, and evaluation system. However, all the details regarding the abroad campuses will be intimated on the official website of IOEs Deemed to be Universities.

The functioning of the abroad campuses of IOE will be reviewed by an Empowered Experts Committee either independently and/or along with the IOE.

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According to the UGC amendments, If the Empowered Experts Committee isn't satisfied with the performance of the abroad campuses after its review, then it may suggest the central government to discontinue the abroad campuses. At that time, the interest of the enrolled candidates at the abroad campuses will be adequately protected by the Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University.

Meanwhile, the IOEs have been allowed to set up the abroad campus centres on an interim campus subject to the permanent campus being constructed within the stipulated time period of not exceeding more than 5 years.