In the evolving landscape of Indian higher education, Delhi-NCR has quietly positioned itself as a first-row seat to global academic ecosystems. In 2025, a series of landmark developments involving international universities and strategic collaborations have turned the region into a gateway for students seeking world-class education without leaving Indian soil.From hosting the country’s first operational foreign university campus to facilitating fully open-access research networks and creating academic bridges with top institutions, Delhi-NCR is emerging as a dynamic intersection where global ambitions and local opportunities meet.
University of Southampton sets foot in Gurugram
The most defining moment in this shift came in July 2025, when the University of Southampton inaugurated its Indian campus in Gurugram. Under the University Grants Commission’s updated regulations, the British institution became the first foreign university to operationalise a full-fledged campus in India. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini presided over the launch, calling it a “milestone towards the internationalisation of education at home.“The Gurugram campus, built within a year of receiving its Letter of Intent, will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes beginning in 2025. Courses include BSc degrees in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting and Finance, and Business Management, along with MSc degrees in Finance and International Management. All programmes align with UK academic standards and offer students the option to spend up to one year at Southampton’s UK or Malaysia campuses.For Delhi-NCR students, this means the potential to earn a globally recognised degree while staying connected to India’s growing industries and ecosystems. The university is also recruiting over 75 full-time faculty with international teaching credentials, creating exposure to diverse teaching styles and research perspectives.
A handshake across continents: UH and DTU
In March 2025, Delhi Technological University (DTU) and the University of Houston (UH) signed a five-year academic partnership designed to promote exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and dual-degree opportunities. The agreement supports faculty exchanges and twinning academic structures, allowing DTU students to experience global learning through structured pathways that align with their curriculum.As part of this collaboration, students will gain access to paid internships and co-op programmes facilitated by the host university. This is especially relevant for engineering and management students aiming to strengthen their career development through international exposure.This partnership also aligns closely with India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020), which promotes the internationalisation of higher education and cross-border institutional networks. As UH’s Dean of Engineering, Pradeep Sharma, noted, such collaborations encourage students to pursue PhDs and advanced research by connecting them to a wider academic network.
Delhi University and University of Leeds
Delhi University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Leeds, UK, to promote collaborative research and student exchange. As part of the agreement, DU will launch a twinning programme under the NEP framework. This initiative will allow students from both institutions to spend a semester at the partner university, gaining valuable international exposure. Plans for adjunct faculty exchanges are also underway to enhance the academic experience on both sides.Prof. Shearer West, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds, highlighted a growing interest among Leeds’ postgraduate and doctoral students to study in India, describing the partnership as a pathway to deepen bilateral student mobility and knowledge exchange.
Research without borders at Shiv Nadar University
In a parallel development, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR entered a Fully Open Access (FOA) agreement with global academic publisher Springer Nature. Announced during the India Sustainability Conclave 2025, the partnership includes the Cureus journal series and aims to make Shiv Nadar University’s research in engineering, computer science, business, and economics globally accessible.This means that students and researchers can now publish, collaborate, and reference work that has international reach without being restricted by institutional paywalls. Speaking at the event, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ananya Mukherjee emphasised the university’s goal of contributing to “a more open, accessible research landscape” that empowers students and scholars to drive real-world innovation.For student researchers in Delhi-NCR, this open-access model offers a chance to position their work alongside that of international peers and be part of a growing global knowledge exchange on sustainability and development.
Delhi-NCR as a global education launchpad
Together, these academic milestones represent more than institutional advancement. They reflect a broader transformation in how higher education is conceptualised and delivered across India. For students in Delhi-NCR, accessing global education no longer necessitates international relocation. Instead, it is being seamlessly integrated into their academic journeys through transnational partnerships, internationally trained faculty, and expansive research ecosystems. As India gradually redefines its role within the global education landscape, Delhi-NCR is emerging as a strategic hub where opportunity converges with ambition, preparing students not merely for examinations but for globally relevant careers.(With PTI and ANI inputs)TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
