New Delhi [India], July 30 (HBTV): Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, inaugurated the India campus of the University of Southampton in Gurugram, Haryana, the Ministry of Education said in a release.

Also present at the event were Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh; Lord Patel OBE, Chancellor of the University and Member of the UK House of Lords; Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India; Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton; Eloise Phillips, Academic Provost, University of Southampton, New Delhi; and senior officials from the Ministry of Education.

According to the release, the inauguration marks a significant milestone in India’s higher education landscape and commemorates five years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The University of Southampton, a QS Top 100 global institution and founding member of the UK’s Russell Group, is the first foreign university to operationalise a campus in India under the University Grants Commission’s (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations.

Speaking at the event, Pradhan said this was a momentous step toward the internationalisation of education in India under the NEP 2020 and a major stride in strengthening the education pillar of the India-UK cooperation, as envisioned in the India-UK Roadmap 2030.

He congratulated the University of Southampton for establishing its state-of-the-art Gurugram campus within a year of receiving the Letter of Intent and expressed confidence that the campus, with its forward-looking courses and academic legacy, would emerge as a distinguished institution shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

The Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that education serves as a living bridge between India and the UK. He called the inauguration of the University of Southampton’s campus in Gurugram an opportunity to reinforce that bridge. The campus is expected to create new synergies, foster a culture of curiosity and excellence, and offer students access to world-class education at a more affordable cost, closer to home and family. He urged the university leadership to introduce STEM courses at the Gurugram campus and aim to make it a hub for addressing global challenges.

Pradhan further stated that education lies at the heart of India’s development strategy. With the internationalisation of education at home, India is positioning itself as a global knowledge destination, reviving its civilisational legacy from Pushpagiri and Nalanda to Gurugram. He invited other top global universities to establish campuses in India to co-create ecosystems of innovation, research, and education.

The Gurugram campus will offer globally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aligned with UK academic standards. Students may spend up to one year at the university’s campuses in the UK or Malaysia. Programmes starting in 2025 include undergraduate (BSc) courses in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting & Finance, and Business Management, as well as postgraduate (MSc) courses in Finance and International Management.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini welcomed the University of Southampton to Haryana and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to developing the region as a global education and innovation hub.

Lord Patel OBE and British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron also addressed the gathering and expressed strong support for expanding educational partnerships between the UK and India.

Vineet Joshi, Secretary of Higher Education and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), congratulated the University of Southampton and the UK Government, calling the launch a proud milestone in the India-UK education partnership. He noted that this is the first campus set up under the UGC’s new regulations—an important reform under NEP 2020 as envisioned by Prime Minister Modi.

Dr Joshi said that NEP 2020 positions India as a global centre for education, research, and innovation, and highlighted the UGC’s commitment to streamlining the process for foreign universities. He praised the proactive support of the Haryana Government and expressed confidence that the new campus would contribute meaningfully to India's priorities in digital innovation and global leadership, particularly in fields such as Computer Science, Economics, International Business, and Management.

The inaugural cohort includes academically accomplished students from across India and international locations such as the United Arab Emirates and Nepal.

The university will hire more than 75 full-time faculty members meeting UK academic standards, all of whom will be required to complete the university’s Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. These faculty members bring experience from academic institutions in the UK, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

The University of Southampton has a global alumni network of over 290,000 graduates, including more than 1,700 from India. Many of these alumni are expected to support the India campus as mentors and industry ambassadors.

The university received its official Letter of Intent on August 29, 2024, followed by a public announcement and formal launch on September 13, 2024.

(ANI)