In a significant step toward establishing India as a global education hub under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Ministry of Education has issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five renowned international universities, enabling them to set up full-scale campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The development was announced at the high-profile event “Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City,” held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
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In a landmark move to elevate India’s stature as a global education hub under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Ministry of Education has granted Letters of Intent (LoIs) to five prestigious international universities, paving the way for their full-fledged campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The announcement was made during the high-profile event “Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City” held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
The five global institutions that received LoIs are:
Each of these universities ranks among the QS World Top 500, underscoring their academic excellence and international recognition.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the development as a historic milestone, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of transforming India into a global knowledge superpower. He stressed that this initiative represents a dual-pronged strategy—inviting global campuses into India while encouraging Indian institutions to expand abroad. “This will deepen global academic partnerships and enhance the flow of knowledge, innovation, and talent,” he noted.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized the impact of the initiative on students and the state’s economy. “This move will make world-class education affordable and accessible for Indian students. They can now access top global programs without the cost and challenges of going overseas,” he said. Fadnavis also disclosed that talks are underway with five more foreign universities, hinting at sustained growth in the sector.
These foreign campuses will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in critical, future-oriented domains such as:
These fields have been carefully selected to align with India’s “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) vision, focusing on equipping youth with globally competitive, future-ready skills.
This is the first time such renowned international universities will establish full campuses in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The University of Western Australia has also announced plans to set up a second campus in Chennai, showcasing the increasing trust in India’s evolving regulatory landscape, particularly after the 2023 UGC Guidelines for Foreign Universities.
Simultaneously, Indian institutions are extending their global footprint. IIT Delhi is launching a campus in Abu Dhabi, IIT Madras is expanding to Tanzania, and IIM Ahmedabad is preparing to open a campus in Dubai. These expansions reflect India’s rising confidence as a net exporter of quality higher education.
Diplomatic envoys from the UK, USA, Australia, and Italy lauded India’s open, collaborative education reforms. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring world-class standards in faculty, curriculum, and infrastructure, underlining education as a vital instrument of diplomacy and shared progress.
This bold initiative marks a transformative shift in India’s global academic engagement—one that blends accessibility, innovation, and international excellence at home and abroad.
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