Delhi, May 26:Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, presided over the Letter of Intent (LoI) handover ceremony to the University of Liverpool today in New Delhi.
This will be the second foreign university to be issued LoI under the UGC (Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.
Lindy Cameron CB OBE, British High Commissioner to India; Dr. Vineet Joshi, Interim Chair, UGC and Secretary Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Prof. Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool; Prof. Tariq Ali, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Partnerships, University of Liverpool; officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of education, University Grants Commission, and other dignitaries were also present at the event.
Three important MoUs were also signed today to explore future collaborative opportunities with companies and organisations including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, YouWeCan, and Dream11.
Pradhan, speaking at the event, said that the LoI reaffirms India's emergence as a trusted partner in global higher education. It is yet another milestone in India's journey of deepening academic partnership with leading global universities—an aspiration firmly embedded in the transformative vision of the National Education Policy 2020, he said.
Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words, the Minister said that the Prime Minister has given the target of making the country Viksit Bharat by 2047. Implementation of NEP 2020 in letter and spirit is the key to actualise this ambition, he stressed. One of the primary recommendations of NEP 2020 is rooted, futuristic and global education and the aim is to produce global citizens, he added.
Pradhan also urged focus on areas like R&D and innovations and expressed his pleasure that Liverpool University is going to focus on STEM-related research leading to innovation. He said that it is important to create a new generation of global citizens. The innovation centre in India will be mutually beneficial for both the university and society, he added. He highlighted that the University of Liverpool is the 4th foreign university to publicly announce its presence in India. By this academic year, 15 foreign universities will be coming to India, especially in STEMB, he added.
He showed his confidence that the University of Liverpool’s campus in Bengaluru will be a global campus that will push the boundaries of research and innovation and foster scientific temper for contributing to global welfare and prosperity. The Minister said that sustainability, health and wellness, and prosperity are the common agenda of the world today, and universities are the hotspots. India, with the ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, is the appropriate place to drive the global agenda and fulfil global responsibilities, he added.
Dr. Vineet Joshi, in his address, said that the Letter of Intent is not just a ceremonial gesture, but it reflects a broader and deeper transformation underway in India's higher education system—one that is driven by strategic reform, international engagement, and a strong policy foundation. He also mentioned that NEP 2020 has rolled out targeted reforms to make Indian education more inclusive, globally competitive, and future-ready. Rooted in NEP 2020's transformative agenda, internationalization has become a core priority—emphasizing global connectivity, high standards, and institutional flexibility, he added.
The University of Liverpool has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open the first foreign university campus in Bengaluru. Scheduled to welcome its inaugural cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026, it will initially offer programs in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, and Biomedical Sciences. Notably, it will also introduce a program in Game Design—a unique offering for a UK university campus in India to offer this innovative subject. The new campus will also create enriching global exchange opportunities, providing UK-based students with an exciting new destination for international study.
The Bengaluru campus will create a research-intensive environment. Important fundamental, applied and industry-driven research will be based on the Bengaluru campus, providing solutions to a range of global and local challenges and needs. The University’s well-established links to employers, successful alumni and enhanced support for enterprise and entrepreneurship activities will ensure students develop the skills they need to go on to successful careers or further study.
As a truly international university, Indian students will also have access to the global mobility scheme, providing important opportunities for academic, professional and personal development both in Liverpool and across the world, and the international perspective needed to succeed in today’s interconnected world. With a curriculum designed to meet global industry standards and taught by a diverse faculty, students will graduate ready to compete in the international job market and contribute meaningfully to the global workforce.
During the event two panel discussions were also held titled ‘The Free Trade Agreement and Beyond’ and ‘The India–UK Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)’.
