Bengaluru, April 14: A renowned university from England is set to establish its campus in India. This significant decision by the Ministry of Education aims to provide foreign university experiences within the country.
Birkbeck, University of London, a historic institution founded nearly 200 years ago, has received approval to open its campus in India. The university will offer courses that are in high demand today, including Business Management and Data Analytics. This development means students will have less need to study abroad, as they can access the same quality of education domestically.
On Tuesday, Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), handed over the letter of intent to Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck. The event was attended by several senior officials, including Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, and Alison Barrett, Director of the British Council in India.
This marks the 15th instance of a foreign university receiving permission to open a campus in India. The government’s goal is to transform India into a global education hub. The Indian campus of a foreign university will offer world-class education at approximately 60% less cost compared to studying abroad. Birkbeck’s campus in Bengaluru will be the first global campus in India, aligning with the government’s vision to establish the country as a center for higher education by 2030, as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020.
Dr. Joshi stated that this letter of intent represents a historic step in opening doors to global education for Indian students. They will now be able to receive a world-class education akin to that in London, but at a significantly lower cost. He emphasized that India’s National Education Policy 2020 particularly focuses on international collaboration in education. Thanks to the UGC’s progressive new regulations, some of the world’s best universities are now setting up campuses in India. This will not only enhance the quality of education but also provide students with better opportunities at lower costs.
Dr. Joshi remarked that the UGC’s initiative will play a crucial role in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Developed India.’ The arrival of a prestigious British university like Birkbeck will strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the UK in education and research. This initiative will create new opportunities for students and bolster research collaboration, helping India become a competitive knowledge economy on a global scale. It will also support India’s goal of increasing the gross enrollment ratio in higher education to 50% by 2030.
Established in 1823, Birkbeck University is renowned worldwide for its career-oriented education model. Experts believe that students at the Bengaluru campus will benefit from research-based teaching and industry-integrated curricula. Professor Sally Wheeler expressed pride in becoming part of India’s education system and emphasized her commitment to making high-quality education accessible to all.
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