Gurugram, July 16, 2025: In a major stride towards transforming India into a global knowledge hub and fostering international educational collaboration, the University of Southampton, ranked among the world’s top 100 universities, officially inaugurated its full-fledged campus in Gurugram, Haryana. The historic event was presided over by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan. The presence of UK High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron, alongside academic leaders and dignitaries, underscored the global significance of this launch.
This momentous occasion is more than a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. It reflects the successful convergence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam philosophy—“The world is one family”—and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s ambitious vision of bringing global quality education to Indian soil. For the first time, an international university has established a full campus in India under UGC’s revised norms—a strategic shift aimed at offering world-class education to Indian students, without the burdens of international relocation.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini described the inauguration of the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus as a landmark moment not just for Haryana, but for the future of India’s youth and the nation’s 2047 vision of becoming a developed country. He remarked that the presence of such a prestigious global institution in Haryana is a testament to the state’s evolving reputation as a preferred destination for international investors and educational institutions, thanks to its robust infrastructure, supportive policy environment, and global outlook.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this campus embodies the values of One Earth, One Family, One Future, aligning perfectly with India’s G20 presidency theme and the ethos of global cooperation in education. He added that the establishment of the University of Southampton in Gurugram is a bold affirmation of India and the United Kingdom’s growing partnership in higher education, innovation, and skill development.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan echoed these sentiments and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Modi for enabling such progressive reforms in higher education. He highlighted the transformation in India’s educational landscape, pointing out the exponential rise in the number of Indian institutions in global rankings. While only 11 Indian universities were featured in the QS World Rankings in 2014, that number has surged to 54 in 2025, signifying international recognition of India’s growing academic quality, research standards, and innovation.
The Minister further elaborated that the central government has given the green light to 17 globally renowned universities to establish full campuses in India. Of these, three have already commenced academic sessions, with the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus being a flagship example. The government’s strategic plan includes facilitating such institutions in key metro regions including the NCR, ensuring maximum accessibility to Indian students. This initiative reflects a long-term goal of offering Indian students access to world-class education without the financial and logistical challenges of overseas study.
The University of Southampton campus in Gurugram currently offers four undergraduate and two postgraduate programs, including BSc in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, and Economics, as well as MSc programs in Finance and International Management. The curriculum, pedagogical standards, and student experience will match those available at the UK campus, thereby providing students with globally recognized degrees, enhanced employment prospects, and the possibility to spend one semester or an academic year in England. This dual exposure model, integrating Indian affordability with British academic rigor, sets a new precedent in cross-border education.
British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, speaking at the event, lauded the development as a concrete step in deepening UK-India educational ties. She emphasized that this partnership allows Indian students to access world-class British education at home, reducing dependency on overseas travel while nurturing future-ready graduates with global perspectives. She described the opening of the campus as an inspiring symbol of modern India’s aspirations and Britain’s willingness to collaborate meaningfully with emerging economies in the education sector.
Chief Minister Saini highlighted Haryana’s emerging role as a global education hub. He shared that the state currently hosts 57 public and private universities, including 14 new institutions added in the last decade alone. Haryana’s goal is to ensure that there is at least one government college every 20 kilometers, with 185 government colleges already established—80 of them in the last ten years. The state is also actively promoting entrepreneurship and start-up culture among its youth, turning them from job seekers into job creators. According to the Chief Minister, Haryana is not just investing in infrastructure but also in future-ready human capital.
The Southampton campus marks a turning point in how global education will be delivered in India, ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and international recognition. It creates a model that combines the rigors of British academia with the aspirations of India’s demographic dividend. This development is set to significantly reduce the exodus of Indian students for higher education abroad—one of the world’s largest outflows in the sector—by bringing globally benchmarked learning closer to home.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Haryana Industries Minister Rao Narbir Singh, UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, University of Southampton Vice Chancellor Lord Patel, President Mark Smith, MLAs Bimla Chaudhary and Mukesh Sharma, and Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Rajiv Jaitley. Officials from India’s Department of Foreign Cooperation and other senior education policymakers were also present.
As the University of Southampton begins its new chapter in India, it symbolizes more than an academic partnership. It embodies the shared future of two nations committed to nurturing knowledge, fostering innovation, and delivering inclusive development through education.
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