Coimbatore: The Centre has entrusted the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to see that only those foreign institutions, which were accredited to it were given recognition to start centres and courses in India.

Considering that there were 'fly-by-night' and 'degree selling' foreign institutions, the government wanted a mechanism, by which only accredited foreign institutions opened centres and offered courses in India, UGC (University Grants Commission) vice-chairman, Prof V N Rajasekharan Pillai told reporters in Coimbatore on June 6.

He said the practice of accreditation existed in countries like Japan. Direction had already been issued that foreign institutions having Centres and offering courses should be accredited within two years.

This would help the institutions both in India and abroad for international exchange of students and faculty, after verifying the authenticity, he said, adding that a committee had already been formed to identify foreign institutions.

The local authorities, which allow foreign institutions to put up stalls in exhibitions should also verify the credibility of the institutions, before granting permission, Pillai said.

Saying that despite having 13,000 colleges, only six percent had access to them, he said the government wanted this to be increased to 15 per cent by the end of 10th five year plan.

PTI