Foreign Tech Schools Are Here: HRD

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Foreign institutions have begun offering and operating technical education courses in India, Parliament was told today.

At least two such institutions are already offering TE courses in India, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari indicated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

India's Institution of Hotel Management, Aurangabad and Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, Panipat now operate in collaboration with Britain-based Huddersfield University and Staffordshire University she said.

She said norms and fees for admission to such courses have been set by the All India Council For Technical Education.

They are part of the Council's 'Regulations for Entry and Operation of Foreign Universities/Institutions imparting Technical Education in India,' she said.

The Minister said the Council regulations for foreign TE universities or institutions entail treatment on par with other such institutions.

The registration is valid for a specified period during which the Council may review the progress made and report periodically to concerned agencies.

In the event of malpractices, registration could be revoked any time, she said.

The government intends to introduce legislation to regulate entry and operations, maintenance of quality and prevention of commercialisation by foreign education providers in the country, she said.

In reply to another question, she told members there is ''no separate'' foreign direct investment policy notified for the education sector.

She said FDI is already allowed on automatic route in the Education Sector by virtue of Press Note 2 (2000 Series) dated February 11, 2000 of the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

She said the government is considering a proposal for regulation of entry and operations, maintenance of quality and prevention of commercialisation of education by foreign educational institutes in higher education.

UNI