In a major step towards realising the goals of internationalization as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the ministry of Education had issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to the University of Southampton (UoS), UK, allowing them to establish their first-ever campus in India.
UoS is ranked among the top 100 Higher Educational Institutions globally, and its presence in India will enhance the educational landscape of India and offer students a unique opportunity for global exposure while receiving an education rooted in Indian values. This will be the first foreign University to be issued LoI under the UGC Regulations for setting up of Indian campuses of foreign universities.
The letter of Intent was issued to the University of Southampton (UoS), UK in an event today, held in New Delhi, titled Internationalization of Education under NEP 2020: Setting up of Foreign University in India today in New Delhi.
Union Minister for External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, in his address at the ocassion, expressed his happiness over the handing over of Letter of Intent to the University of Southampton which will be establishing a campus in India under NEP 2020. He said this reflects both the vision of elevating our educational standards to the highest global levels and delivering on the education pillar of India-UK cooperation. Confident that such endeavors will further make our youth work ready and foster a spirit of global understanding and cooperation, he stated.
The Minister highlighted the initiative will help establish a strong interactional footprint of brand India in the educational sphere. This is a growing reality as new technologies and service demands are sought to be harmonized with demographic deficits, the Minister said.
Dr. Jaishankar also mentioned some of the major initiatives that are part of the India-UK Road Map 2030 and said that cooperation in education has been a major part of it. He mentioned the MoU on Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications between the two countries and the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS), jointly announced by the leadership which provides a unique opportunity for young graduates in both the countries to learn and benefit from each other’s institutions, programs such as the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), and the scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC).
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his message on X platform, said this initiative is a foot forward towards realising the goal of ‘internationalisation at home’ as envisioned in the NEP 2020. India as a ‘Vishwa-Bandhu ’ is committed to fulfil its global responsibilities and build a brighter future for education, innovation and progress, he stated.
He expressed his happiness that more and more globally-renowned HEIs are evincing keen interest for multi-faceted collaborations with top Indian institutions as well as for tapping the potential of India as a global education and talent hub of the future. Adding that the establishment of campuses of foreign universities in India and Indian HEIs abroad is not just about expanding educational opportunities, he stated that it is about creating a vibrant ecosystem of research, knowledge exchange and global collaboration. “Educational institutions across countries have a responsibility to produce “global citizens” with global ethos who can provide solutions to global challenges.”
“Establishment of campuses of foreign universities in India and Indian HEIs abroad is not just about expanding educational opportunities. It is about creating a vibrant ecosystem of research, knowledge exchange and global collaboration.”
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
Some of the important initiatives taken to promote internationalization include UGC regulations enabling Joint/Dual and Twinning arrangements between Indian and Foreign HEIs; streamlining the entry of foreign students to Indian institutions through Study in India portal that is a one stop window for entry of students and aligns VISA issuance with the admission process, he said.
Professor Andrew Atherton from University of Southampton said that Delhi will be the first comprehensive international campus in India. “It will develop world-class, work-ready graduates with specialist and transferable skills that will enhance India’s fast-growing knowledge economy,” he added.
“Delhi will be the first comprehensive international campus in India. University will develop world-class, work-ready graduates with specialist and transferable skills that will enhance India’s fast-growing knowledge economy.”
Prof. Andrew Atherton, University of Southampton
The creation of the UoS campus in India will be beneficial for students, in terms of extending global course curriculum and study opportunities in India, and for research, knowledge exchange, enterprise and engagement. Courses will be offered on business and management, computing, law, engineering, art and design, biosciences and life sciences. The University has submitted a 10-year projected course rollout plan. In the first three years they will operate the following courses:
- First year: BSc Computer Science, BSc. Business Management, BSc. Accounting and Finance, BSc. Economics and MSc. International Management, MSc. Finance.
- Second year adds BSc. Software Engineering, BSC Creative Computing, MSc. Economics.
- Third year adds LLB Law and then B. Eng (Mechanical Engineering).
The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) places a strong emphasis on attaining the highest global standards in higher education quality. It highlights the need for “internationalization at home” and promotes India as a global study destination, offering premium education at an affordable cost. The establishment of the branch campus of University of Southampton in India will enhance India’s appeal as a top global study destination and strengthen India-UK relations, paving the way for future educational collaborations.