The University Grant Commission (UGC) has asked universities across the country to establish an office for international affairs. These offices will be “an integral part of the internationalization of higher education in India,” according to UGC.
As part of the 2020 new education policy, the government has asked universities to expand the global reach of Indian higher education institutions to promote India as a global study destination. These offices will be one more step in the same direction and would be responsible for academic and research collaborations with foreign institutes, the UGC said.
These offices “will act as a link between foreign students and the sponsoring agency”, will attend to foreign students’ complaints, facilitate networking and provide full support to foreign students in their adaptation to the country. Likewise, they will coordinate all matters related to the admission and support of foreign students, will disseminate information related to the admission process among potential foreign students, and will carry out promotion and branding campaigns abroad.
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Considering the importance of an international affairs manager, you are requested to establish such an office at your university for the above activities. You are requested to provide the UGC with relevant information on the Office of International Affairs before February 15, ”said a letter from the UGC to the rectors of all universities.
Recently, UGC changed its policy to allow Institutes of Eminence (IoEs) to relocate abroad upon receiving discharge certificates from the Department of State and the Department of the Interior. The amendments also permit the IOEs to start new off-campus centres, with a maximum of three in five years and not more than one in an academic year. There are 18 Institutions of Eminence.
