With the HRD Ministry frowning over ‘‘shady’’ foreign universities and their franchises setting up shops across the country, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) are putting their acts together to force them to play by the same rules governing Indian educational institutes.The University Grants Commission is going to the extent of getting its statute amended so that it has the power over the foreign universities which have opened or are wanting to open branches in the country.HRD Ministry officials said this UGC amendment will be put before the next Cabinet meeting for approval and then brought to Parliament when the session resumes after break.‘‘The (HRD) Ministry has received huge number of complaints from students and parents about the manner in which some of the little-known foreign institutes — often without proper certification from the parent countries — have been defrauding them or charging them exorbitant fees,’’ a Department of Higher Education official said.Similarly, the All India Council for Technical Education will have full control over the foreign technical institutes opening shop here, mostly through franchises.‘‘These foreign institutes have to go through the AICTE and get approval, before they can tap the Indian higher education sector and the Council will also the have power to withdraw accreditation if the do not live to the standards,’’ the HRD official said.Apart from the accreditation issue, the foreign universities will also not be allowed to reduce the Indian technical education sector as a test ground for experimental teaching methodologies.These foreign universities will also have to get clearance from their respective embassies before they start business in the Indian soil, the officials added.
