~ A major leap in affordable, world-class education as institutions from the UK, USA, Australia, and Italy receive Letters of Intent to establish campuses, reinforcing Mumbai’s emergence as a global education hub.~
In a landmark move that underscores India’s growing influence in the global education landscape, the Ministry of Education formally issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five internationally acclaimed universities from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Italy to establish their campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. This major initiative, launched during a high-profile event titled “Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City,” is a decisive step towards fulfilling the ambitious goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The universities—University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Instituto Europeo di Design (IED), Italy—are all ranked among the top 500 in the QS World University Rankings, reinforcing the global credibility of this move.
Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the development as a milestone moment in India’s educational transformation. “NEP 2020 envisions India as a global study destination—offering premium education at an affordable cost. This initiative is about co-creating knowledge ecosystems that will empower youth, boost innovation, and turn India into a global knowledge hub,” he said.
With two campuses to be established by the University of Western Australia—one in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and another in Chennai—this marks the first-ever entry of foreign universities into Mumbai’s academic landscape. The campuses are expected to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in high-impact fields such as business, economics, computer science, public health, data science, and design—disciplines crucial to India’s long-term development goals and the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis emphasized the Government’s agility and foresight, stating, “This is not just about global institutions coming to India—it’s about Indian students gaining access to world-class education right here at home. NEP 2020 has opened the doors wide, and Maharashtra is ready to lead this new education revolution.”
The event was graced by several dignitaries including Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Shri Chandrakant Patil, CIDCO MD Shri Vijay Singhal, and UGC Chairman Dr. Vineet Joshi, who lauded the Ministry and UGC’s swift, transparent, and tech-driven processes that enabled LoI approvals in under a month.
Dr. Joshi highlighted the significance of this movement, adding, “This is not a one-way street. We are inviting our foreign partners not just as collaborators but as core contributors to India’s academic and innovation ecosystem. The time-bound and transparent mechanism we have built ensures quality and accountability on both sides.”
The event witnessed the presence of senior officials from the Union Ministry of Education, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, and the University Grants Commission, joined by distinguished dignitaries from various High Commissions and Consulates. Notable attendees included Ms. Lindy Cameron CB OBE (British High Commissioner to India), Mr. Paul Murphy (Consul General of Australia), Mr. Mike Hankey (Consul General of the USA), Mr. Walter Ferrara (Consul General of Italy), Shri Vijay Singhal (Managing Director, CIDCO), and Shri Ashwin Damera (Founder, Eruditus Executive Education).
Representatives from the participating countries lauded the Government of India’s bold move under NEP 2020 to open doors for offshore campuses, commending the swift issuance of the LoIs and the transparent process behind it. Highlighting education as a bridge between nations, speakers from the UK, USA, Australia, and Italy expressed their pride in being part of India’s global education transformation. They reaffirmed their commitment to bringing world-class academic excellence to Indian shores—from design to data science—further strengthening international academic collaborations.
With this latest milestone, India has now issued seven LoIs under NEP 2020 to leading global institutions, including the University of Southampton and the University of Liverpool. Deakin University and the University of Wollongong from Australia have already established operations in GIFT City, Gujarat.
Beyond foreign participation, India is also expanding its global footprint. Indian institutions such as IIT Delhi (Abu Dhabi), IIT Madras (Tanzania), and IIM Ahmedabad (soon in Dubai) are setting up campuses abroad, reinforcing India’s dual ambition of “Study in India” and “Study by India.”
As India celebrates five transformative years of NEP 2020, this milestone is not just symbolic—it is structural. It demonstrates India’s commitment to fostering a future-ready education system rooted in global partnerships, academic innovation, and inclusive growth.
Mumbai, long known as India’s financial capital, is now poised to become a beacon of global education—where knowledge meets opportunity, and aspiration meets accessibility.
