University of Lancaster and University of Surrey to set up campuses in India: UK PM Keir Starmer

New -Delhi, October 9 (PTI) University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey received the nod to set up campuses in India, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced during his first visit to India. The approval of the two universities takes the number of institutions from the UK in the foreign campuses in India to nine. While the University of Southampton opened a campus in Delhi earlier this year, the University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol, the University of Liverpool, the University of Queen and the University of Coventry from next year. According to a statement from the British High Commission here, Prime Minister Starmer confirmed that the University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey had received approval to open new campuses in India to meet their bleeding demand for higher education places. Currently, there are 40 million students at the University in India and 70 million places are needed in 2035. The United Kingdom’s world-renowned higher education sector utilizes demand by giving thousands of Indian students the chance to study for a British degree without leaving the home while strengthening India’s economy by millions of pounds. With the new campuses announced on Thursday, the UK will become a country with the largest footprint of higher education in India. Starmer and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the milestone in a meeting with British vice -chancellors in Mumbai. The British Prime Minister is on a two -day trading mission to strengthen ties with one of the fastest growing economies in the world and put money back into the pockets of hardworking British people. “Our great British universities are admired all over the world for their excellence in teaching, high-quality research and commitment to innovation. I am delighted that more Indian students can benefit from a British education of world-class education between our two countries in the near future while reinforcing millions in our economy and supporting work at home,” Starmer said. British education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that British higher education is global, and this expansion shows its global attraction. “Opening new campuses in India will give more young people the chance to take advantage of British education while delivering real returns for our universities. As we prepare to postpone our international education strategy, these new campuses are an indication of our ambition: building long -term partnerships that grow, innovation and opportunity for both countries,” Phillips said. ” The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced in 2023 the establishment and operation of campuses of foreign higher education institutions in India regulations. The University of Southampton became the first foreign university to set up its campus in India under the regulations.