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India has taken a landmark step in its journey to become a global education hub, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announcing the issuance of Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five prestigious foreign universities to set up campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. This bold move, marking five transformative years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is set to reshape the country’s higher education landscape and make premium global education accessible and affordable for Indian students.
Key Highlights
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Five Top Global Universities Approved: University of York (UK), University of Aberdeen (Scotland), University of Western Australia (Australia), Illinois Institute of Technology (USA), and Instituto Europeo di Design (Italy) have received LoIs to establish branch campuses in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai.
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First Foreign Campuses in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai: These will be the first foreign university campuses in the region, some expected to be part of the upcoming Mumbai EduCity, envisioned as a global education hub.
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Affordable World-Class Education: The move is designed to offer global-standard education at significantly reduced costs, addressing accessibility and affordability for Indian students who previously had to go abroad.
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Diverse Course Offerings: The new campuses will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in business, economics, computer science, public health, data science, design, and more—fields critical for India’s future workforce.
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Rapid Implementation: The entire approval process was completed in a record one month, reflecting the government’s commitment and efficiency.
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Internationalization at Home and Abroad: While India welcomes foreign universities, Indian institutions like IIT Delhi and IIT Madras are also expanding globally, signaling a two-way exchange of knowledge and talent.
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NEP 2020 as the Catalyst: The regulatory reforms under NEP 2020 have made it easier for top-ranked foreign universities to operate in India, supporting the vision of positioning India as a global knowledge hub.
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Further Expansion Expected: Talks are ongoing with additional universities, and more campuses are expected to be approved soon, further strengthening India’s global education ecosystem.
“We are not just inviting foreign universities; we are co-creating ecosystems of innovation, entrepreneurship and research… This milestone exemplifies the spirit of Sankalp se Siddhi, the journey from resolution to realization,” said Dharmendra Pradhan.
With these developments, India is not only retaining its talent but also attracting international students, paving the way for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive higher education sector.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India
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