Lok Sabha Question No. 4633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-22
Subject: Transform Higher Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Pritam Gopinath Munde, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4633 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd JULY, 2019

## Transform Higher Education

## 4633. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

## SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH RAO MUNDE:

## SHRI SRIRANGA APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  released  a  five-year  vision  and  action  plan  to transform higher education by doubling enrolment and employability;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of the vision document;
- (c) the manner in which it will be beneficial for the betterment of higher education in the country as well as at par with the international standard;
- (d)  whether the Government is looking at allowing top foreign universities from the
- US, the UK, Australia and other countries to set up off- campus centres in India;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the time by which the said centers are started in the country?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a)  to  (f):  The  Government  has  received  recommendations  of  10  Experts  Groups under Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP) on 10 focus areas of higher education namely (i) Strategies for expanding access, (ii) Towards global  best  teaching/learning  process,  (iii)  Promoting  excellence,  (iv)  Governance reforms,  (v)  Assessment,  Accreditation  &  Ranking  systems,  (vi)  Promotion  of research & innovation, (vii) Employability & Entrepreneurship, (viii) Using Technology for better reach, (ix) Internationalisation of Higher Education and (x) Financing higher education. The recommendations have been sent to State Governments and other related  departments  of  Government  of  India  for  suggestions  and  comments.  The Government  has  not  taken  a  final  decision  on  the  recommendations,  their  likely

financial implications and source of funding.

At  present,  there  is  no  law  which  allows  the  entry  and  operation  of  foreign educational  providers  to  set  up  their  campuses  in  India.  However,  the  University Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  notified  the  UGC  (Promotion  and  Maintenance  of Standards  of  Academic  Collaboration  between  Indian  and  Foreign  Educational Institutions) Regulations 2016, which spell out the modalities regarding the eligibility criteria  and  the  conditions  for  the  collaboration  of  a  foreign  educational  institution with an Indian educational institution. UGC regulations in this respect are available at http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2016/170684.pdf.

All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  has  also  set  norms  for academic  collaborations  and  twinning  programmes  between  Indian  and  Foreign Universities/Institutions  in  the  field  of  technical  education,  research  and  training  in

India. AICTE norms in this regard are available at https://www.aicteindia.org/sites/default/files/APH%202019-20.pdf.

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