External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke at an event focused on the Internationalization of Education, where a Letter of Intent was presented to the University of Southampton for establishing its campus in India under NEP 2020. The EAM highlighted that this initiative embodies the vision of raising India's educational standards to global excellence while strengthening the education partnership between India and the UK.
Jaishankar also acknowledged the strong bilateral ties between India and the UK, with education being a key pillar. "Today's event is also a testament to the strong and multifaceted bilateral ties between India and the United Kingdom, of which education is a particularly important pillar. At the heart of this progress lies the National Education Policy 2020. It is a policy which champions internationalization and aims to position India as a global player in education", Jaishankar said at the event.
"NEP 2020 is more than just a policy, it is in fact a vision for the future of education in India, one that aspires to elevate our standards to the highest global levels. It aims to make India a hub of excellence, attracting students from around the world, setting up foreign university campuses and fostering global competencies among our students and our faculty. The initiative will help establish a strong international footprint of brand India in the education sphere", he added.
Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar stated, "Pleased to attend handing over of Letter of Intent to the University of Southampton which will be establishing a campus in India under NEP 2020". The Ministry of Education in a press release informed that the move is aimed towards fulfilling the vision of NEP 2020. "India as a 'Vishwa-Bandhu' is committed to fulfilling its global responsibilities and building a brighter future for education, innovation and progress", it stated.
EAM Jaishankar graced the occasion along with Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri; Christina Scott, UK Deputy High Commissioner to India; Andrew Atherton, Vice-President, International, University of Southampton and UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar were present at the occasion.
The event was also graced by the presence of esteemed ambassadors from various nations, prominent academicians from private and state universities, industry leaders, and other distinguished guests. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended as well. In a post on X, Pradhan described the initiative as a significant step toward achieving the 'internationalization at home' goal outlined in the NEP 2020.
Pradhan expressed his delight that an increasing number of globally renowned higher education institutions are showing strong interest in diverse collaborations with leading Indian institutions and recognizing India's potential as a future global hub for education and talent. He further noted that establishing campuses of foreign universities in India and Indian HEIs abroad goes beyond expanding educational opportunities; it is about fostering a dynamic ecosystem of research, knowledge exchange, and global collaboration. He emphasized that educational institutions worldwide have a responsibility to cultivate "global citizens" with a global ethos, capable of addressing global challenges.
