The Ministry of Education has made significant progress towards achieving the internationalization objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. A Letter of Intent (LoI) has been granted to the University of Southampton (UoS) in the UK, permitting it to establish its first campus in India.
Ranked among the top 100 higher education institutions worldwide, University of Southampton’s presence in India is expected to enrich the educational landscape and provide students with a unique opportunity for global exposure while receiving an education grounded in Indian values. This marks the first instance of a foreign university receiving an LoI under the UGC Regulations for setting up Indian campuses.
The announcement was made during an event in New Delhi recently, titled “Internationalization of Education under NEP 2020: Setting up of Foreign University in India.“
Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, attended the event alongside dignitaries such as Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs; Ms. Christina Scott, Deputy High Commissioner, UK in India; Andrew Atherton, Vice-President of International, University of Southampton; M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of UGC; and various ambassadors, prominent academics, industry officials, and other distinguished guests.
In his address, Dr. Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction with the LoI granted to University of Southampton, emphasizing its alignment with the vision of raising educational standards to global levels and fulfilling the educational component of India-UK cooperation.
Dr. Jaishankar also referenced key initiatives within the India-UK Road Map 2030, emphasizing education cooperation as a focal point. He mentioned the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications between the two countries.
Additionally, he highlighted the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS), which offers young graduates from both nations the chance to learn from each other’s institutions, and discussed programs like 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 a message on X platform, described this initiative as a step towards achieving the goal of “internationalization at home” as envisioned in NEP 2020.
Pradhan expressed his enthusiasm for the increasing interest from globally renowned universities in collaborating with top Indian institutions and recognizing India’s potential as a future global education and talent hub.
Professor Andrew Atherton stated that the University of Southampton Delhi will be the first comprehensive international campus in India, aimed at producing world-class, work-ready graduates with specialized and transferable skills to support India’s growing knowledge economy.
The establishment of the UoS campus in India is expected to benefit students by offering a global curriculum and study opportunities, as well as fostering research, knowledge exchange, and engagement. In the first three years, the following courses will be available:
First Year: BSc Computer Science, BSc Business Management, BSc Accounting and Finance, BSc Economics, MSc International Management, MSc Finance.
Second Year: BSc Software Engineering, BSc Creative Computing, MSc Economics.
Third Year: LLB Law, B.Eng Mechanical Engineering.
The establishment of the University of Southampton branch campus in India is set to enhance India’s attractiveness as a premier global study destination and strengthen India-UK relations, paving the way for future educational collaborations.
