Gurugram (Haryana) [India], July 31 (HBTV): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday inaugurated the Southampton University Campus in Gurugram.

Following the inauguration, both leaders visited the campus to observe its facilities and offerings.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Saini said that the establishment of the Southampton University campus in Gurugram, under the National Education Policy and the guiding philosophy of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, would elevate India's higher education standards to new heights.

He expressed pride that Haryana is becoming a preferred destination for foreign investment due to its robust infrastructure. Highlighting that the University of Southampton is among the top 100 universities globally, the CM said its entry into Gurugram signifies growing educational cooperation between India and the UK.

He described the event as a golden chapter in India’s education journey, saying it marks not just the opening of a campus but a step towards fulfilling the aspirations of India’s youth and the national vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

CM Saini noted that for the first time, under India’s new education policy, the University Grants Commission has approved the establishment of a full-fledged international university campus in India. He said this milestone reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and is a testament to the transformative vision of the National Education Policy.

He added that the new campus will provide Indian students with high-quality, globally recognised education, comparable to that offered in the UK. Students will also have the option to study for one semester or one year in the UK, offering them valuable international exposure.

CM Saini said the campus would play a pivotal role in making Haryana a global education hub. 'Our aim is to transform Haryana into a skill hub where youth not only become job seekers but also job creators,' he added.

He informed that there are currently 57 government and private universities in the state, 14 of which have been established in the last 10.5 years. The state government has set a target of opening a college within every 20 kilometres. Out of the 185 government colleges in Haryana, 80 were opened in the last decade. He also said the state is actively promoting entrepreneurship and encouraging students to pursue start-ups.

Speaking at the event, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan credited PM Modi’s leadership for bringing about historic changes in India’s higher education landscape. He noted that Indian universities’ presence in the prestigious QS rankings has risen from 11 in 2014 to 54 currently, reflecting enhanced global trust in the Indian education system.

The Union Minister added that the Centre has allowed 17 globally reputed universities to set up full-fledged campuses in India. Academic sessions have already begun at three of these institutions. He also stated that these international campuses would be developed in major metropolitan regions, including the NCR, to make quality education accessible to a larger section of Indian youth.

He urged everyone to move forward collectively as 'Vishwabandhu' (global citizens) and lauded CM Saini for providing an enabling educational environment in Haryana.

Currently, the Southampton University Campus in Gurugram offers four undergraduate and two postgraduate programmes. These include B.Sc. Business Management, B.Sc. Accounting and Finance, B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Economics, M.Sc. Finance, and M.Sc. International Management.

(ANI)