- Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the University of Southampton's India campus in Gurugram the first foreign university under UGC’s new guidelines.
- The campus will offer UK-standard UG and PG programs in fields like Computer Science, Business, and Finance, with academic sessions starting in 2025.
- The initiative marks a milestone in NEP 2020’s globalisation vision and strengthens India–UK educational ties through the 'living bridge' partnership.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated the University of Southampton's India campus in Gurugram. As per a report by DD News, this is the first foreign university to set up campus in India according to the new UGC guidelines.
Pradhan welcomed this event as a 'momentous milestone' towards the internationalisation of education through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He further stated that this significant progress also reinforces the education pillar of the India-UK strategic partnership, as envisioned in the India-UK Roadmap 2030.
"Southampton University's Gurugram campus will open up new synergies, give rise to a new culture of excellence and curiosity, and offer an additional option to students to gain world-class education at a lower price and closer to home and family", stated Pradhan.
The minister also called for the university to introduce STEM programmes and promote India's vision of emerging as a global innovation hub.
The event was graced by Nayab Singh Saini Haryana CM, Lord Patel OBE Chancellor of the University, and member of the UK House of Lord, Lindy Cameroon British High Commissioner to India, and Dr Vineet Joshi UGC Chairman.
Pradhan congratulated the university on establishing a state-of-the-art campus in one year of receiving the Letter of Intent. Highlighting the strengthening educational ties between India and the UK, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s depiction of the partnership as a “living bridge” connecting the two nations.
UGC Chairman Dr Vineet Joshi called the new Gurugram campus a milestone and a template for future global partnerships under the NEP 2020. The initiative, he said, reinforces India's emerging place in the world as an education destination.
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The new campus will provide undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in accordance with UK academic standards with the fields of study including Computer Science, Business Management, Economics, and Accounting & Finance. The students will also be able to pursue some of their studies in the UK or Malaysia.
Academic sessions will commence in 2025, with the first batch featuring students from India, the UAE, and Nepal. Undergraduate programs will feature BSc degrees in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting & Finance, and Business Management, while postgraduate MSc degrees in Finance and International Management will be featured.
The university disclosed that over 75 senior academics from leading international universities will be based at the Gurugram campus, and there will be high academic standards. Its worldwide alumni network of over 290,000+ graduates, with 1,700+ from India, will be able to make a big contribution by guiding students and making industry connections.
