A New Chapter in Higher Education
The inauguration of the India campus of the University of Southampton in Gurugram, Haryana, marks a significant milestone in the country’s higher education landscape. This event was celebrated with the presence of several prominent figures, including Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Industries and Commerce Minister of Haryana Rao Narbir Singh, Lord Patel OBE, Chancellor 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 of the University of Southampton, New Delhi, and senior officials from the Ministry of Education.
A Milestone for the National Education Policy 2020
This inauguration is a key moment in commemorating five years of the National Education Policy 2020. The University of Southampton, a QS Top 100 global institution and founding member of the UK’s Russell Group, has become the first foreign university to operationalize a campus in India under the University Grants Commission’s (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations. This development underscores the growing internationalization of education in India and strengthens the education pillar of India-UK cooperation as envisioned in the India-UK Roadmap 2030.
Vision for Global Leadership
Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted that this initiative represents a momentous milestone towards the internationalisation of education in India under the NEP 2020. He commended the University of Southampton for establishing this state-of-the-art campus within a year of receiving the loan. Pradhan expressed confidence that the campus, with its array of forward-looking courses and Southampton’s legacy of academic excellence, will emerge as a distinguished institution that shapes leaders of tomorrow.
He emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always stressed that education is a living bridge between India and the UK. The opening of the University of Southampton’s Delhi campus is an opportunity to further strengthen that bridge. The Gurugram campus will 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.
Pradhan urged the University of Southampton leadership to start STEM courses at the Gurugram campus and aimed for it to become a hub of solutions for global challenges. He also reiterated that education has been placed at the heart of India’s development, envisioning the country as a global knowledge destination, reviving its civilizational legacy, and reigniting its intellectual heritage from Pushpagiri and Nalanda to Gurugram.
Expanding Educational Opportunities
The new Gurugram campus will offer globally recognized undergraduate and postgraduate programs aligned with UK academic standards. Students may spend up to one year at the University’s campuses in the UK or Malaysia. Programs starting in 2025 include undergraduate (BSc) courses in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting & Finance, Business Management, and postgraduate (MSc) courses in Finance and International Management.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini welcomed the University of Southampton to the state and reaffirmed the Government of Haryana’s commitment to positioning the region as a global education and innovation hub. Patel OBE, Chancellor of the University of Southampton and Member of the UK House of Lords, and Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, also addressed the gathering and expressed their strong support for expanding UK-India educational partnerships.
A Collaborative Effort
Secretary, Higher Education and Chairman UGC, Vineet Joshi, warmly congratulated the University of Southampton and the UK Government on the opening of their pioneering campus in India. He called it a proud milestone in the India-UK education partnership and highlighted that this is the first campus set up under the UGC’s new regulations, which enable top foreign universities to establish branch campuses in India—a key reform envisioned under the National Education Policy 2020.
Joshi noted that NEP 2020 positions India as a global hub for education, research, and innovation. He emphasized that the UGC has created a streamlined, transparent process to facilitate such initiatives. Acknowledging the proactive support of the Haryana Government, he expressed confidence that the University of Southampton, with its legacy of academic excellence, will provide quality education in critical areas such as Computer Science, Economics, International Business, and Management, thereby contributing to India’s priorities in digital innovation and global leadership.
Building a Global Community
The first cohort at the India campus comprises academically accomplished students from across India and international locations, including the United Arab Emirates and Nepal. The University is set to hire over 75 full-time faculty members who meet UK academic standards and will be expected to undertake the University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. These faculty members bring experience from global academic centers in the UK, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Japan, and the United States.
The University of Southampton boasts 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 by serving as mentors and industry ambassadors. The campus received its official Letter of Intent on August 29, 2024, followed by a public announcement and formal launch on September 13, 2024.