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The University Grants Commission (UGC), the higher education regulatory body, has issued a fresh public advisory warning students and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) against unrecognised collaborations with foreign educational providers. The UGC notice reiterates that any degree or diploma granted through such arrangements will not be valid in India and will be treated as unrecognised by the Commission.
The UGC regulations require all foreign collaborations to be explicitly approved under the 2022 and 2023 frameworks that govern joint degrees, dual degrees, and the establishment of foreign campuses in India.
This clarification comes in continuation of an earlier notice dated December 12, 2023, which addressed concerns related to unapproved academic collaborations between Indian HEIs and foreign institutions. The UGC has observed that several colleges and EdTech platforms continue to offer joint or online degree and diploma programmes in association with foreign entities not recognised by the Commission.
“Degrees issued through such collaborations are not recognised by the Commission,” the UGC said, warning that action would be initiated against the defaulting institutions and EdTech companies under applicable laws and regulations.
The Commission also expressed concern over aggressive advertising by EdTech firms promoting such programmes on social media, television, and print media, thereby misleading prospective students.
Students and the general public have been urged to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of any academic programme involving foreign institutions. “They would be doing so at their own risk and consequences,” it added.
