UGC Draft: Opinions of experts differ on the opening of campuses of foreign universities, some praised and some said nonsense

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued new draft regulations for the establishment of foreign universities in India. Once these rules come into force, foreign universities will be allowed to set up their campuses in India and admit Indian students and international students. The UGC has currently sought comments from stakeholders on these rules. While the opinion of political parties, academic experts, and former officials is divided on these rules. Where this move has been welcomed by many students and government and former officials. At the same time, the leaders of the Left parties have come out against it.

Former CEO of NITI Aayog said – a welcome step

Former CEO of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant shared some statistics on Twitter welcoming the decision taken by UGC to allow foreign universities to set up their campuses in India. The former NITI Aayog chief wrote that the number of Indian students going abroad for higher education will increase to 1.8 million by 2024, while their overseas spending will increase to $80 billion by 2024. In this context, the UGC has allowed foreign universities to set up their campuses in India with the autonomy to decide their fee structure. This is a very big and welcome step.

Education will become commercialized: CPI

Whereas, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has opposed the decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to allow foreign universities to open campuses in India. The CPI claimed that the decision would harm the country's higher education system. In a statement released on Friday, the CPI said that the time given to give suggestions on the issue is less. This policy will harm, weaken and destroy the Indian higher education system. This will lead to the commercialization of education. Dalits, tribals, minorities and the poor will be adversely affected due to costlier education.

Reservation policy will be shocked

The Left said the decision was a reflection of the government's pro-rich approach in the backdrop of a statement by the education minister in Parliament that Indians should stop depending on the idea that universities should be funded by the government. The Communist Party claimed that this decision would cause huge damage to the policy of reservation and the principle of social justice. Imposing such a policy on the states is anti-federal and an encroachment on the powers of the state governments. The CPI has demanded a discussion in Parliament to decide the regulatory framework for foreign universities.

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