Ahead of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit here mid-November, the HRD Ministry is considering a policy change to enable students obtaining one-year MBA degree from the United Kingdom to have better research programme options in Indian institutions.
There has been a sharp decline in the number of such MBA passouts in the last two academic sessions as they are not allowed to register for higher education in the universities here. Britain has been pursuing the matter with India.
The Ministry is now considering the drop in number of such Indian students to UK (MBA specific) from 28,000 to 26,000 to plan the move.
While UK has a one-year MBA programme, known as Taught Programme, the Indian universities, except for the IIMs and private ones offering one-year executive programme, have two-year MBA degree courses.
HRD Ministry sources said that to allow the students to pursue higher education in Indian institutions, they may have to go for a bridge course ranging between two and four months so that the one-year UK degree comes on par with Indian MBA degree courses. However, it involves a lot of complexities, they pointed out.
“The change would facilitate better research programme in Indian universities for those who completed MBA from UK universities. In the present academic format, the one-year MBA programme is not valid for pursing research or higher studies in Indian universities. They are, however, allowed in private universities which are not regulated. UGC has been brought on board to discuss the matter as it is affecting a lot of students,” the sources said.
A high-level meeting chaired by Higher Education Secretary Ashok Thakur and UGC Chairperson was convened on Wednesday to discuss the modalities. “Many complex issues have to be dealt before a final call is taken. But when we are aiming for global competition in higher education sector certain amendments have to be done,” UGC sources said.
The meeting also comes against the backdrop of a recent decision by the Ministry that Indian institutes with grade B accreditation can now enter into collaboration with foreign players including those from the UK. With increased number of Indian institutes offering twinning courses with foreign players, UGC notified last month a set of regulations making an institute in India with a B grade accreditation to enter into collaboration with a foreign institute.
The foreign institutions, however, should be accredited with the highest grade in their homeland to enter twinning arrangements with those Indian institutions, the gazette notification said. Sources said, foreign collaboration with B grade Indian institutions is being perceived to enable Indian institutes improve quality.