India's University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued draft regulations that pave the way for leading foreign universities such as Yale, Oxford, and Stanford to set up campuses and award degrees in the country.
The move is part of India's efforts to overhaul its higher education system and make the country a more attractive destination for international study, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
According to the draft note, foreign universities and educational institutions that meet certain criteria, including recognition and establishment in their home countries, will be eligible to offer a range of courses and award degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
“Last year, nearly 450,000 Indian students went abroad for studies, this means a huge outflow of capital from India and this also shows that there is a huge interest among Indian students to study in foreign universities. This is why we wanted to bring the institutes to India,” Professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, chairman of the UGC, said.
The regulations also stipulate that courses must be taught in person rather than online.
Institutions will be required to apply for permission to set up a campus, with permits needing to be renewed every nine years, and will be required to operate in a way that is not against the "national interest".
“The operation of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions shall not be contrary to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency, or morality,” the draft note read.
Institutions will also be allowed to repatriate their earnings under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
According to the UGC chairman, some European universities have already expressed interest in the venture and that the government often holds talks with other embassies and foreign delegates to explore their interest.
The UGC has given institutions the freedom to set their fees and recruit their faculty members, among other things.