UGC wants single-window system for foreign students

The University Grants Commission has directed all varsities and educational institutes enrolling foreign students to set up International Students Centres...

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all varsities and educational institutes enrolling foreign students to set up International Students Centres which will serve as a single-window system for foreign students. The UGC has also given its nod for special websites,familiarisation sessions and periodic monitoring of foreign students. Last year,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had backed the recommendations made by the inter-ministerial committee on the welfare of foreign students in India.

International Students Centres will act as an intermediary mechanism between the students and other stakeholders like the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO),banks,landlords in case of private accommodation,security agencies and educational institutes. In a communication sent to all universities,the UGC has said that it would provide financial assistance to institutions to set up and maintain such centres .

The UGC has also made it mandatory for each university and institute admitting foreign students to organise familiarisation sessions for new students at least three weeks prior to commencement of the academic session. These sessions must include interaction with the FRO/FRRO and other authorities besides priming foreign students on information related to the region,city and suburbs,local customs,culture,language and civil facilities. Varsities have also been asked to develop websites with content targeted at foreign students.

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That apart,universities will have to constantly monitor colleges affiliated to them. The colleges will be required to send periodic reports about their functioning with regard to foreign students to universities of their affiliation or to state education departments in case of deemed and state varsities.

The Indian Express had earlier reported on how red-tapism in India came in the way of foreign students opting for higher education here. Last year,the Prime Minister had constituted an interministerial committee,headed by Pavan Verma ,DG,Indian Council for Cultural Relations,on welfare of foreign students. The committee report calls for streamlining the visa process for students as well advocating that multi-entry visas be granted for long-term courses.