UGC asks universities, colleges to appoint compliance officers; check latest notice

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday asked all universities and colleges to appoint compliance officers.

As per the latest UGC notice, there has been large inflow of foreign students coming to India for education. However, due to non-availability of a designated person to be contacted by Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) / Foreigners Registration Offices (FROs) at the educational institutes, it is creating delays in various aspects.

Similarly, undue harassment of foreign students is caused by delay in processing service applications and unintentional violations of visa norms by the foreigners.

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Considering all these, the UGC has requested all the higher educational institutions to appoint compliance officers. The compliance officers will coordinate with FRROs/ FROs for ascertaining facts in respect of foreign students during grant of various services like visa registration, visa extension, exit permit etc. along with their attendance, academic performance and other academic records.

In its notice, the UGC has asked vice-chancellors of universities and principals of colleges to disseminate the information among the colleges and affiliated institutions.

In another development, the UGC has invited comments/suggestions on draft University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status Upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2022.

“The higher education in the country is going through major transformation with the advent of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. UGC has reviewed the existing regulations to align them with the recommendations of NEP, 2020 with the help of an Expert Committee,” the UGC notice read.