Question : REGULATING FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES

(a) whether a few institutes conduct their courses/programmes in the field of technical education in collaboration with foreign universities/institutions without obtaining approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) ;

(b) if so, whether the degrees issued by these universities are not upto the required standard;

(c) whether any policy has been formulated by the Government to regulate the entry of foreign universities and to maintain the quality/standard of education imparted by foreign universities; and

(d) if so,the steps taken to check exploitation of students by foreign universities particularly in the field of medicine and engineering ?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SHRI ARJUN SINGH )

(a)to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 52 FOR 21.10.2008 ASKED BY SHRI BHUPENDRASINH SOLANKI AND SHRI MAHESH KANODIA,HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT,REGARDING REGULATING FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES.

(a)& (b): Yes Sir, according to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE),68 institutions are reported to be conducting programmes in collaboration with foreign universities/ institutions without approval from the Council.No University other than those established under Section 2(f) or institution declared deemed to be university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 can award any degrees in India.

(c) & (d): At present, only the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has framed regulations,in the field of technical education,for entry and operation of foreign universities/institutions imparting technical education in India.A legislative proposal for regulating the entry and operation of foreign educational institutions,in India is under consideration of the Government.

Public Notices have been issued by AICTE in leading newspapers and the list of unapproved institutions have been displayed on the AICTE website cautioning students about such institutions. The Medical Council of India (MCI)also issues advertisements from time to time in leading newspapers cautioning the public at large about admissions in any foreign institutions operating in India which are not approved by the MCI,and not to get deceived by any misleading advertisements.

A public appeal has also been issued on 17th June,2008 in the print media cautioning parents/ guardians and students that while seeking admission in higher educational institutions,they should satisfy themselves that such institutions are recognized under the relevant laws and are of quality and repute.Even in the case of recognized institutions and universities,parents and students have been advised to satisfy that the courses for which admissions are being offered/advertised are duly recognized and further that the campuses to which admissions are being offered are also recognized campuses of such institutions and universities.In case of any doubt,they have been advised to obtain information directly from the statutory bodies such as UGC,AICTE etc.These statutory authorities have also been directed to launch effective campaign against institutions which are unrecognized and unauthorized and to take appropriate penal action under law.An appeal has also been made to the media to refuse publishing of misleading advertisements even if it meant loss of advertising revenue.

In a conference of State Education Ministers on 22nd and 23rd July,2008,the States have also been requested to initiate necessary action against such education institutions which have not complied with necessary laws and regulations and are cheating the students by way of misleading advertisements or other means.