UGC Warns Against Degrees Offered in Collaboration with Unrecognized Foreign Universities

New Delhi: The UGC has warned that the degrees offered by edtech companies and colleges in collaborative arrangements with foreign universities not recognised by UGC will not be considered valid. The UGC warned students against taking admission in such courses.

“It has been observed that many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and colleges have entered into collaborative agreements with foreign-based educational institutions or providers not recognised by the commission and have been facilitating the issuance of foreign degrees to the students,” UGC Secretary Manish Joshi said.

“Any such kind of collaboration or arrangement is not recognised by the UGC and, accordingly, the degrees issued subsequent to such collaboration arrangement are also not recognised by the commission,” The UGC secretary added.

The UGC also cautioned about advertisements by some edtech companies in newspapers, social media and television, offering degree and diploma programmes in online mode in association with some foreign universities and institutions.

“Such a franchisee arrangement is not permissible and any such programme or degree shall not have UGC recognition. Action will also be taken against all the defaulting edtech companies as well as the HEIs under applicable regulations,” Joshi added.