The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an important notice regarding the joint degree and dual degree programmes which were recommended under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
On May 2, the UGC notified collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions to offer twinning, joint and dual degree programmes Regulations, 2022. It is expected that these regulations will promote academic collaborations with foreign educational institutions and at the same time lead to excellence in academics and research in Indian institutes.
Apart from this, the academic and research collaboration will also provide mobility to students and faculty through joint degree and dual degree programmes to achieve higher global rankings.
“All the eligible Indian Universities may now engage in academic collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions as per the provisions to offer Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programmes) Regulations,2022,” UGC letter read.
Dual Degree Programme key highlights:
- The degrees for such programme shall be conferred by the Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions, separately and simultaneously, upon completion of degree requirements of both the institutions. This shall not in any way be construed as two degree programmes in separate disciplines/subject areas and/or levels being pursued simultaneously.
- The students must earn at least 30 percent of total credits from the Indian institution. Credits to be earned by the Indian students from the foreign institution and credits earned by the foreign students from Indian institutions shall be obtained through conventional mode.
- Credit earned for the course(s) in an institution shall count towards degrees to be awarded by both the institutions. - The collaborating Higher Educational Institutions shall make provisions for exit pathways for students who are unable to complete the Dual Degree programme with clear specification with respect to future acceptance of credits earned by the students.
Joint Degree Programme:
- For a Joint Degree programme, the curriculum shall be designed jointly by the collaborating Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions and, upon completion of the programme, the Degree is awarded by the Indian Higher Educational Institution and the collaborating Foreign Higher Educational Institution with a single certificate.
- Credits earned for the course(s) in an institution shall count towards the degrees jointly awarded by both the institutions.
- The collaborating Higher Educational Institutions shall ensure that the credits earned by the students shall not be from overlapping course contents/curriculum and the student shall submit to only one examination and evaluation process for each of the courses by the institutions in which he/she has registered for that course