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Mumbai, Oct 9 (IANS) In a historic move to strengthen educational ties between Britain and India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the opening of nine British university campuses in India, including the universities of Southampton, Surrey and Lancaster.
PM Modi’s announcement came at a joint press conference with his UK counterpart, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived in India on Wednesday for a two-day visit with the country’s largest ever trade delegation.
“The Gurugram campus of the University of Southampton has already been inaugurated, with the first group of students now admitted,” he said at a press conference after a high-level meeting at the Raj Bhavan here.
PM said, three more campuses are being prepared in GIFT city of Gujarat.
PM Starmer confirmed that Lancaster University and the University of Surrey have been given approval to open new campuses in India to help meet the growing demand for higher education places.
He said, “The demand for the best quality higher education is very high. So I am really pleased to announce that more British universities will be setting up campuses in India, making the UK India’s leading international higher education provider and delivering on our Vision 2035.”
Currently, there are 40 million students in universities in India, but there is a need for 70 million places by 2035.
The UK’s world-renowned higher education sector is taking advantage of that demand by offering thousands of Indian students the chance to study for a UK degree without leaving home – while boosting our economy by millions of pounds.
PM Starmer said, “I am delighted that more Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education in the near future – strengthening the relationship between our two countries while bringing millions back into our economy and supporting jobs at home.”
The announcement of British universities opening campuses in India is in line with the broader goals of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which aims to promote closer economic and educational ties between the two countries.
The move is expected to facilitate greater collaboration in research, innovation and academic exchanges, benefiting students and professionals alike.
–IANS
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