Lead Story

Bill to restrict burgeoning HM institutes

Praveen K Singh - New Delhi

Worried over the unregulated growth of foreign institutes setting up campus in India or imparting dual programmes in partnership with Indian institutes, the government will ratify the Regulation of Foreign University Entry & Operation (Maintenance of Quality & Prevention of Commercialisation) Bill, 2007, in the forthcoming monsoon session of the Parliament.

The Bill will regulate the number of hotel management institutes across the country that are operating without the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approval by just collaborating with a foreign university. The Bill, which has already got approval of the Cabinet Committee, will put a stop to all universities, however reputed they are. By rule, these universities will also have to put in at least 51 per cent of the total capital investment required for setting up an institute in India. The surplus income generated should be used for development and expansion of institutes in India.

According to the Bill, the fees will be regulated by UGC and every institute will need a corpus of at least Rs 10 crore along with an NOC from its embassy or high commission in India. No franchisee will be permitted. All foreign universities will be granted a 'deemed university' status under Section 3 of the UGC Act and will have to ensure that the quality of programmes are equivalent to the courses offered on Indian campuses.

AICTE till now has not approved any dual programme with foreign education providers under its 'Regulation for Entry & Operation of Foreign Universities/Institutions Imparting Technical Education in India', although it has approved three institutes in India with foreign collaboration. Out of which just one institute offer HM degree - Institute of Hotel Management of Aurangabad, affiliated to University of Huddersfield, UK

Talking to Express Hospitality, Dr Prasad Krishna, advisor (Quality Assurance) with AICTE, explains, "With this Bill, the universities have to commit that the curriculum, teaching methods and faculty are comparable to what is offered in its home country. Also, it should take into account the cultural and linguistic feelings of Indian." He elaborates that AICTE has already prescribed that these institutions have to get an NOC from their embassy in India and Accreditation Certificate from appropriate regulatory bodies of the foreign institution's parent country. "The government aims to make the procedures trouble-free and time-bound to promote world-class universities to set campuses and enter into partnerships with reliable Indian higher education providers through twinning or collaborative educational programmes and put off entry of fly-by-night operators," Dr Krishna explains.

However, some industry experts argue against the Bill saying it will affect the basic right of education. Explains Kamal Sharma, CEO of FHRAI IHM, "These regulations will affect the quality of technical education. There should be knowledge for all and foreign universities should be completely free to operate and disseminate quality education."

Echoing his views is Nisheeth Srivastava, executive director of Eikon Academy, who argues that this is just another adaptation of Licence Raj that will restrict the entry of good foreign institutions. The Bill, which is meeting head-on objections by Leftists in the Parliament, is expected to be cleared with slight alterations, informs an insider in HRD ministry.