The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified a
new regulation to streamline the recognition and grant of equivalence degrees
to academic qualifications obtained from foreign educational institutions. The
move comes amid a growing number of Indian students returning from abroad with
international credentials, often facing delays and uncertainty in getting their
degrees recognised either for admission to Indian institutions or for
employment.
Under the new
regulations, the UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications
Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025 notified on
April 4, the Commission has put in place a transparent, technology-driven
mechanism to assess foreign qualifications from schools and higher education institutions.
The provisions,
however, for granting equivalence certificates to foreign qualifications will
not apply to professional degrees awarded in disciplines such as Medicine,
Pharmacy, Nursing, Law, Architecture, and other fields that fall under the
jurisdiction of statutory regulatory councils in India.
Such qualifications
will continue to be governed by the specific norms and recognition procedures
laid down by the respective regulatory bodies. "This reform addresses a
long-standing challenge and is aligned with the National Education Policy
2020's goal of transforming India into a global hub for education. If Indian
institutions are to attract international students, we must ensure fair and
timely recognition of foreign degrees," UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar.
Equivalence parameters
The equivalence process
will now be governed by a set of parameters, including the legitimacy of the
foreign institution, the duration and level of the qualification, and its
comparability to Indian programmes. Importantly, the new framework removes the ad
hoc nature of past recognition practices by setting up a Standing Committee on
Equivalence that will vet institutions and qualifications for their validity
and parity with Indian standards. The regulations also provide for the
establishment of an online portal where applicants can submit requests for
equivalence and track their status.
The Standing Committee
will meet periodically and make recommendations based on established
benchmarks, including the status of the foreign institution in national and
international rankings. "The commission has developed a robust and fair
procedure to ensure that deserving students are not left in the lurch due to
procedural ambiguity," Kumar said.
The standing committee
decision will be based on factors such as the minimum duration and credit
requirements of the course, including a permissible variation of up to 10 per
cent in normalised credit load. It will also assess the structure of the
curriculum, covering core, elective, cross-disciplinary and lab courses as well
as contact hours, self-study hours, and experiential learning components.
Parag Kalkar, Pro Vice
Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, welcomes the move. He says that
in line with the the National Education Policy 2020 and the overarching
National Credit Framework, these Regulations on Equivalence of Foreign
Qualifications mark a significant stride towards a truly internationalised and
integrated Indian education system.
Unrecognised institutions not eligible
Evaluation processes,
including thesis or dissertation assessment and mandatory project or internship
requirements, will also be considered to establish equivalence in learning
outcomes. The UGC has also listed the conditions for recognition of foreign degrees.
The foreign education
institution must be recognised under the relevant laws in force in the home
country, and the applicant must have pursued the programme of study to the
qualification and the entry-level requirements for admission to such programme
of study are similar to that of a corresponding programme of study in India.
The UGC has also clarified that
qualifications obtained through unrecognised institutions, unaccredited
programmes, or in contravention of regulatory norms in India such as those
offered via franchise arrangements will not be eligible for equivalence.
Online process
The UGC has outlined a structured online
process for granting equivalence certificates to qualifications obtained from
foreign educational institutions. Applicants must submit their request through
a dedicated portal along with the prescribed fee and, where necessary,
authenticated English translations of documents.
Each application will
be evaluated by a Standing Committee of education experts, which must issue its
recommendation within ten working days. The Commission is then required to
communicate its final decision within fifteen working days. If additional
documents are needed, applicants will be given more time, with corresponding
extensions to the decision timeline.
In cases of rejection,
applicants may seek a review within thirty working days by paying a specified
fee. A separate Review Committee will reassess the application and submit its
recommendation within ten working days, following which the Commission will
issue a final decision within fifteen working days. If accepted, an equivalence
certificate will be issued via the online portal.
Mr. Kalkar says by
establishing a robust and transparent mechanism for recognising foreign
qualifications, we are not only facilitating seamless mobility for our students
across global educational landscapes but also enriching our own academic
ecosystem with diverse perspectives and expertise. This initiative, overseen by
the UGC, underscores our commitment to providing our learners with pathways
that honour their diverse learning journeys, whether academic, vocational, or
experiential, and empower them to thrive in an increasingly interconnected
world.
Source
| The Hindu | 6th April 2025
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