New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country, is all set to become a world-class education hub with the Government on Friday paving the way for five globally renowned universities from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Italy to establish campuses in the city.
At an event held in Mumbai today, Dharmendra Pradhan Union Education Minister issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to the prestigious institutions including University of York (UK), University of Aberdeen (UK), University of Western Australia (Australia), Illinois Institute of Technology (USA) and Instituto Europeo Di Design (IED) (Italy), as per a statement issued here.
The move is part of the vision outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and it will help to elevate India’s higher education landscape and attract students from both within the country and abroad, said Pradhan at the event ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’.
These top-tier universities will offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a range of disciplines, including Business, Economics, Computer Science, Public Health, Data Science, Design, and more, said the Minister.
Pradhan also asserted that “The establishment of these foreign campuses in India will provide students with opportunities to pursue world-class education while significantly reducing the financial burden of studying abroad. India is on its way to becoming a preferred study destination.”
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, emphasised the immense value these global institutions will bring to the state, noting that the NEP 2020 has paved the way for top international universities to establish a presence in India.
“This is a game-changer for talented Indian students who faced barriers in accessing quality international education due to affordability and geographical constraints. Now, they can study at globally recognized institutions without leaving the country,” he said.
The universities receiving LoIs are all ranked among the top 500 in the QS World University Rankings. Notably, the University of Western Australia plans to establish two campuses—one in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and another in Chennai.
This is the first-time foreign universities will establish a presence in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai, with some expected to set up campuses in the upcoming Education City in Navi Mumbai under the UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.
In addition to the five universities already set to establish campuses in Mumbai, talks are ongoing with five more global institutions, said the statement.
Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), highlighted the regulations that enable seamless collaboration between global institutions and Indian universities, fostering a dynamic learning environment for the country’s vast talent pool.
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