In a ceremonial event titled ‘Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City’ held in Mumbai on June 14, Letters of Intent (LoIs) allowing foreign universities to establish their offshore branch campus in India, were issued to five globally reputed universities from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States of America and Italy. 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.
The handing of the LOIs took place in the august presence of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan; Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, Chandrakant Patil, Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Aseem Gupta and Secretary, Department of Higher Education & Chairman, UGC, Dr. Vineet Joshi.
All five universities from UK, USA, Australia and Italy, receiving the LoIs are ranked among the top 500 in the QS World University Rankings, signifying strong global academic credibility. The University of Western Australia will establish two campuses, one each in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and Chennai, reflecting the growing confidence of top institutions in India’s regulatory and academic landscape. The establishment of these university campuses 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 at the Mumbai/Navi Mumbai/Chennai campus will be offered at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels in areas such as business, economics, computer science, public health, data science, design, and more. These are the disciplines that will drive India’s development in the years ahead and shape the workforce of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’ The universities will launch more courses in the subsequent years of its operations in India.
Devendra Fadnavis speaking on the occasion remarked that the swift issuance of LoIs reflects the speed and commitment of the Government. He thanked the PM for NEP 2020 which has a provision for foreign universities to be a part of Indian education sector. The five universities, he noted, have added immense value to the State and NEP 2020 has truly opened doors for top global institutions to establish campuses in India. He further stated that talented Indian students who faced accessibility and affordability issues in pursuing foreign education can now do so in India at reduced costs. The Government aims to make accessible, global quality education across various domains and further talks are ongoing with 5 more universities, he stated.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that NEP 2020 envisions India as a global study destination, offering premium education at an affordable cost. “As we mark five years of implementing the NEP 2020, this milestone exemplifies the spirit of Sankalp se Siddhi, the journey from resolution to realization. It strengthens our shared goal of empowering youth and enabling innovation-led growth through education leading to Viksit Bharat.”
He added that with this initiative, we aim to realize the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of positioning India as a global knowledge hub. India is encouraging top international universities to establish campuses here, while empowering Indian Higher education institutions to expand globally.
He further added that this initiative reflects a growing two-way movement of ideas, talent and trust. India is not just participating in global education ecosystem; we are shaping it. Shri Pradhan said that Maharashtra’s leadership in enterprise and intellect and with Mumbai Educity emerging as a city where finance and technology meet education and research, Mumbai/Navi Mumbai will bridge Indian aspirations and global excellence. He further said that we are not just inviting foreign universities; we are co-creating ecosystems of innovation, entrepreneurship and research.
Secretary, Department of Higher Education & Chairman, UGC, Dr. Vineet Joshi, highlighted the transparent, time-bound process of evaluating proposals from foreign universities through a digital portal, also noting that approvals were granted within a record timeframe of just one month. Joshi, welcomed the foreign partners in the ‘Study in India’ initiative not just as collaborators, but as valued members of our academic community.
The representatives from High Commissions, Consulates, and Foreign Universities welcomed the Government of India’s visionary move under NEP 2020 to allow offshore campuses. They appreciated the speed and commitment shown in issuing the Letters of Intent. Speakers from the UK, USA, Australia, and Italy highlighted education as a bridge between nations and expressed pride in being part of India’s rising global education story. From design to technology, they committed to bringing the same academic excellence to India.
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. With the current round of approvals, the UGC has now issued a total of seven Letters of Intent (LoIs), including the previously cleared institutions such as the University of Southampton and the University of Liverpool from the United Kingdom to set-up offshore branch campuses in India. It is important to note that Deakin University and the University of Wollongong from Australia were the first foreign institutions to start operations in India, at GIFT City, Gujarat, under the IFSCA regulations. The 2023 UGC regulations enabling foreign universities to set up campuses in India are only one part of a broader internationalization vision. Parallelly, Indian institutions are going global. IIT Delhi has launched a campus in Abu Dhabi, IIT Madras in Tanzania and IIM Ahmedabad is gearing up to establish a presence in Dubai
