Reforms needed for foreign degree recognition in India
India needs new policies to reconsider recognition of year-long master’s and online courses offered by the UK and other countries, says Vivienne Stern
Shivangi.Mishra@timesgroup.com
11.02.2019
Number of Indian students opting for a foreign degree has been on a steady rise. The recent data released by UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), shows that the number of Indian students has increased by 28% in the academic year 2017-18 than in 2016-17.
The trend, says Vivienne Stern, director, Universities UK International — a consortium of British universities— is an indicator and it is time to look at policy level reforms to recognise more number of foreign degrees in the public sector in India.
Year-long master’s degrees offered in the UK are currently not recognised by centrally funded Indian universities or by various public-sector employers in India. The principal reason given for non-equivalence is the duration of course as only two-year programmes are recognised as master’s degree in India.“The education over the years has evolved and today year-long postgraduate programmes are as efficient as two-year programmes. For the vast majority of students, it is not a problem because they go for the private sector jobs, but it has been a long standing topic of discussion,” says Vivienne. “There is no substantiated evidence for the lack of quality in such courses. These graduates have great potential on returning back and can contribute academically so, why put a barrier,” she adds.
ONLINE DEGREES
Presently, there are around 7,00,000 students pursuing a UK degree through distance learning mode. India stands at 9th position, taking online courses from UK institutes. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) does not recognise any foreign degrees awarded through distance learning.
Despite lack of official recognition, students and employers still have faith in these degrees as they match industry standards. Many graduates will be successfully employed in the private sector after getting online degrees, says Vivienne.
“Online degree provision offers a possible solution to India’s growing demand for high quality, low cost higher education. Online degrees from UK universities are quality assured under the UK’s quality assurance system, which means that they must meet the same world-class standards as any degree offered inside the country by an institution,” she says.
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
Degrees with collaborative provision is a good option for Indian students. “Rather than allowing the international branch campus model that is seen widely in other parts of Asia, the Indian government has preferred the gradual development of international collaborative partnerships to support home grown excellence.”
“Most courses are delivered entirely at a private Indian partner institution, though very few programmes offer an option of studying at the UK partner university,” she says.
There is a lot of potential for growth in such collaborations.
Foreign institutions operate within a complex regulatory environment in India with up to six bodies involved in institution or programme approval (AICTE, AIU, UGC, NAAC, NBA and a range of professional councils). This also needs to be simplified.
Vivienne Stern
BREXIT WILL OFFER OPPORTUNITIES
There is a lot of growth potential in terms of UK-India collaboration in education and research, especially in the Brexit aftermath. Various partners such as the Universities UK International and the British Council are constantly looking at all possibilities of strengthening this collaboration.
This is being done through initiatives such as the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) started in April 2006. Now in its third phase, the initiative is working towards developing programmes that meets the priorities and needs of both the countries and bring about a systemic change in the education, skills and leadership sectors of both India and the UK.
The British government, with this realisation, has proposed several changes in immigration policies, under which UG, PG and PhD students will be able to stay in the UK to look for work for six months after college. They will also have three months before graduating during which they can find work and change from a study visa to a work visa.
International graduates will be given two years after graduating during which they can apply to switch their UK study visa to a UK work visa .
India needs new policies to reconsider recognition of year-long master’s and online courses offered by the UK and other countries, says Vivienne Stern
Shivangi.Mishra@timesgroup.com
11.02.2019
Number of Indian students opting for a foreign degree has been on a steady rise. The recent data released by UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), shows that the number of Indian students has increased by 28% in the academic year 2017-18 than in 2016-17.
The trend, says Vivienne Stern, director, Universities UK International — a consortium of British universities— is an indicator and it is time to look at policy level reforms to recognise more number of foreign degrees in the public sector in India.
Year-long master’s degrees offered in the UK are currently not recognised by centrally funded Indian universities or by various public-sector employers in India. The principal reason given for non-equivalence is the duration of course as only two-year programmes are recognised as master’s degree in India.“The education over the years has evolved and today year-long postgraduate programmes are as efficient as two-year programmes. For the vast majority of students, it is not a problem because they go for the private sector jobs, but it has been a long standing topic of discussion,” says Vivienne. “There is no substantiated evidence for the lack of quality in such courses. These graduates have great potential on returning back and can contribute academically so, why put a barrier,” she adds.
ONLINE DEGREES
Presently, there are around 7,00,000 students pursuing a UK degree through distance learning mode. India stands at 9th position, taking online courses from UK institutes. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) does not recognise any foreign degrees awarded through distance learning.
Despite lack of official recognition, students and employers still have faith in these degrees as they match industry standards. Many graduates will be successfully employed in the private sector after getting online degrees, says Vivienne.
“Online degree provision offers a possible solution to India’s growing demand for high quality, low cost higher education. Online degrees from UK universities are quality assured under the UK’s quality assurance system, which means that they must meet the same world-class standards as any degree offered inside the country by an institution,” she says.
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
Degrees with collaborative provision is a good option for Indian students. “Rather than allowing the international branch campus model that is seen widely in other parts of Asia, the Indian government has preferred the gradual development of international collaborative partnerships to support home grown excellence.”
“Most courses are delivered entirely at a private Indian partner institution, though very few programmes offer an option of studying at the UK partner university,” she says.
There is a lot of potential for growth in such collaborations.
Foreign institutions operate within a complex regulatory environment in India with up to six bodies involved in institution or programme approval (AICTE, AIU, UGC, NAAC, NBA and a range of professional councils). This also needs to be simplified.
Vivienne Stern
BREXIT WILL OFFER OPPORTUNITIES
There is a lot of growth potential in terms of UK-India collaboration in education and research, especially in the Brexit aftermath. Various partners such as the Universities UK International and the British Council are constantly looking at all possibilities of strengthening this collaboration.
This is being done through initiatives such as the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) started in April 2006. Now in its third phase, the initiative is working towards developing programmes that meets the priorities and needs of both the countries and bring about a systemic change in the education, skills and leadership sectors of both India and the UK.
The British government, with this realisation, has proposed several changes in immigration policies, under which UG, PG and PhD students will be able to stay in the UK to look for work for six months after college. They will also have three months before graduating during which they can find work and change from a study visa to a work visa.
International graduates will be given two years after graduating during which they can apply to switch their UK study visa to a UK work visa .
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