Karnataka to see UGC clarity on student safety if foreign varsity campuses shut down

Bengaluru: As a number of foreign universities are interested in setting up their campuses in Karnataka, the state government has decided to write to the University Grants Commission (UGC) seeking clarity on student grievances, in case they wind up the campus suddenly.

Addressing a news conference here, on Thursday, Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar directed his department officials to study the conditions imposed by the UGC for foreign universities and submit a report.

“In the event of sudden wind up of the campus, there is no clarity on the future of the students as foreign universities are not in the control of the state government. We will write to the UGC seeking clarity on the same,” Sudhakar said.

The minister further mentioned that the state government was only facilitating and had no control on foreign universities. “If we impose restrictions, they will go to some other state. But in the interest of students, we need to get clarity from the UGC,” he added.

Sudhakar said that foreign universities setting up their campuses in Karnataka would be beneficial for native students as many cannot afford to study abroad by spending a lot of money. “If the same university is offering the same degree on our own land with less expense, it will be advantageous for our students,” he added.

Replying to a question, Sudhakar clarified that the State Education Policy (SEP) would not be applicable to foreign universities. “When we don’t have that right on Private and Deemed-To-Be Universities, how can we impose it on foreign universities? They have all the liberty to choose the policy and also the curriculum,” he added.

Sharing details after meeting the delegation led by UK minister for Indo Pacific Seema Malhotra, Sudhakar said that he had requested the UK government to increase the number of students eligible for the Chevening Scholarship Programme from Karnataka.

“We have also proposed dual degree programmes at our universities in collaboration with universities from the UK,” the minister said.