New Delhi, May 23 (H.S.): The new National Education Policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has opened the doors for historic development of global higher education in the country. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted approval to the Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) in the United States to establish its campus in India. Following the new education policy, Illinois Tech will be the first institution to set up its campus in India.
This American institution will provide undergraduate and postgraduate programs in high-demand fields such as computer science, engineering, and business.
The English newspaper 'Gulf News', published from the United Arab Emirates, provided extensive coverage on the academic changes occurring under India's new education policy on its website today. According to 'Gulf News', the Illinois Tech campus will open in Mumbai, the economic capital of India, by 2026. The newspaper states that this initiative aligns with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Its goal is to facilitate the entry of foreign higher education institutions into India, establishing the country as a global education hub. The policy envisions India as a knowledge-driven society by the centenary of its independence in 2047. Illinois Tech's move is a significant step towards encouraging foreign universities to establish campuses in India.
According to Gulf News, the UGC has approved the establishment of campuses for five prestigious foreign universities, namely the University of Liverpool (UK), Victoria University (Australia), Western Sydney University (Australia), and Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy). Additionally, York University (UK) plans to open a campus in Mumbai offering courses in computer science, AI, cybersecurity, business, economics, and creative industries starting from the academic year 2026-27. Imperial College London has also initiated the opening of a science center in Bengaluru to strengthen research and innovation collaboration with Indian institutions in fields such as AI, telecommunications, semiconductors, health technology, and clean technology.
Gulf News assesses that this marks a new era for the youth of India. This change provides Indian students access to global educational standards without the necessity of studying abroad. The availability of international curricula in these campuses opening in India presents a significant historical opportunity. It aims to provide students with expanded academic options. The UGC's guidelines for global universities include autonomy in curriculum design, freedom to determine admission criteria and fee structures, and the ability to offer internationally recognized degrees within the country.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
