He was a part of a 126-member UK delegation to India led by UK Prime Minister Starmer, which included entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, and college VCs, to rejoice the landmark trade deal between the 2 nations.
“The presence of all 9 UK universities with a Letter of Intent (LoI) or Letter of Acceptance (LoA) is a significant achievement for the UK HE sector, surpassing approvals from all different nations,” stated Atherton, in a chat with The PIE Information.
“UK universities have embraced the brand new laws and India has embraced UK universities. All 9 universities met with Prime Minsters Modi and Starmer throughout their joint press [conference], which celebrated the campuses and highlighted their contribution to the expansion and growth of upper schooling in India.”
Although Starmer has insisted that visa routes for Indian employees and college students will not be a part of the broader commerce deal, increasing abroad choices for college students to review in India was a key purpose of the journey.
Main UK universities, together with Coventry, Queen’s College Belfast, Surrey, Bristol, York, Aberdeen, Lancaster, and Liverpool, are set to launch campuses by 2026 throughout GIFT Metropolis, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Southampton is the one useful campus thus far, opening in August with 120 college students in its inaugural cohort.
The presence of all 9 UK universities with a LoI or LoA is a significant achievement for the UK HE sector, surpassing approvals from all different nations
Andrew Atherton, College of Southampton
India’s rising demand for increased schooling, projected at 70 million locations by 2035, presents alternatives for UK establishments, significantly as cautious immigration insurance policies form examine overseas selections amongst Indian college students.
Each nations are additionally set to deepen schooling ties by way of the Imaginative and prescient 2035 framework, with an annual ministerial dialogue to overview qualification recognition and promote knowledge-sharing by way of platforms just like the UK’s Schooling World Discussion board and India’s Nationwide Schooling Coverage (NEP).
The College Grants Fee (UGC), India’s increased schooling regulator, launched relaxed rules in 2023 for overseas universities to open department campuses in India. Whereas preliminary curiosity was gradual, many establishments are actually actively exploring alternatives, in accordance with Atherton.
“When the NEP first talked about worldwide campuses in India there was some debate and activism about whether or not worldwide universities would apply,” stated Atherton.
“With 9 from the UK and three from Australia and one from the US, the coverage has confirmed its skill to engorge worldwide universities to arrange campuses in India.”
