Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan
The University of Southampton on Thursday received approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up a branch campus in India, becoming the first university in the global top 100 and the UK’s Russell Group to set up a campus in the country under the National Education Policy 2020.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan handed over the Letter of Intent (LoI) in New Delhi as part of the vision of internationalisation in the country under NEP 2020.
Jaishankar said the move is part of the country’s aim to raise its educational standards to the highest global levels and fulfil the educational pillar of India-UK cooperation.
Confident that such efforts will further prepare our youth and foster a spirit of global understanding and cooperation, he said.
Pradhan said the move leverages India’s potential as a global education and talent hub of the future, with world-renowned higher education institutions (HEIs) keen to establish multifaceted collaborations with leading Indian institutions.
The establishment of foreign university campuses in India and Indian higher education institutions abroad is not just about expanding educational opportunities but about creating a vibrant ecosystem of research, knowledge sharing and global collaboration.
Educational institutions in all countries have a responsibility to produce global citizens with a global spirit who can provide solutions to global challenges, Pradhan said.
The new university campus is expected to be located in Gurugram, within the National Capital Region (NCR), to provide world-class teaching and learning opportunities for students in a variety of higher degree programs.
The university said it will build on the strategic objectives, leadership and expertise of the University of Southampton’s India Centre, established in March 2019 as part of the institution’s long-standing commitment to and in India.
The University of Southampton is privileged to have received approval to establish a campus in India. Building on our long-standing and deep ties, a campus is the next logical step in developing a closer partnership with India, said Professor Andrew Atherton, Vice President for International Affairs at the University of Southampton.
We have been working closely with the India Business Group (IBG) on certain strategic issues and stakeholder engagement, and look forward to continuing to do so as the campus develops and we build even stronger ties with businesses, partners and stakeholders in India, he said.
IBG said its experience as a strategic advisory consultancy working on the UK-India corridor will assist the University of Southampton with stakeholder engagement, liaising with industry and fostering commercial links.
“This is a truly historic moment for the rapidly evolving relationship between the UK and India. IBG is delighted to be working with Southampton as one of its strategic advisory partners,” said Amarjit Singh, CEO of IBG and an alumnus of the British university.
We recognise that education, research and innovation are key pillars of the bilateral relationship, and this exciting development will promote academic excellence, engagement with industry and government and strengthen the living bridge between our two great nations, he said.
IBG said it is already working closely with the university’s senior leadership team and the International Office to support deeper engagement in the country with academia, industry and government.
The NEP 2020 issued a commitment to improve the higher education landscape across India, with new policy developments and innovations in transnational education offering exciting avenues for global institutions to collaborate and develop new models of engagement in the country. According to experts, as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with over 25 per cent of the world’s student population, India is well positioned to become a global talent hub for skilled workforce.
The University of Southampton says that by creating a comprehensive campus, it will embrace gradual expansion by leveraging its triple helix strategy, which integrates education, research, entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer. Recognised as one of Europe’s most entrepreneurial universities, Southampton claims to have strong industrial partnerships with world-leading companies such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Microsoft.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 29, 2024 | 11:01 PM IS
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