Mumbai: The University of Aberdeen Mumbai has strengthened its founding leadership team with the appointment of Professor Marnie Campbell as Provost and Vinu Chakravarthy as Chief Operating Officer (COO), as the UGC-approved international campus prepares to admit its inaugural student cohort in 2026.
The appointments come weeks after the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the University of Aberdeen’s proposal to establish its Mumbai campus under the UGC (Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.
Professor Campbell brings more than two decades of academic leadership experience, having held senior roles at Edith Cowan University, Deakin University and the University of Waikato. As Provost, she will lead the academic vision for the Mumbai campus, overseeing teaching, research and academic quality.
Vinu Chakravarthy joins as Chief Operating Officer with nearly two decades of experience in higher education leadership, campus operations and institutional management across India and the UAE. He will oversee professional services, campus operations and strategic initiatives as the university prepares for its launch.
Commenting on her appointment, Professor Campbell said the Mumbai campus presents an opportunity to build a research-led, globally connected learning environment while responding to the aspirations of students in India.
Chakravarthy said the immediate focus would be on establishing strong operational foundations and delivering a high-quality student experience for the university’s founding cohort.
The University of Aberdeen Mumbai is expected to begin academic operations with undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in September 2026. According to the university, the campus will combine the institution’s research-led curriculum with industry engagement and international academic standards.
The appointments are among the latest developments as foreign universities approved under the UGC’s 2023 regulations continue to establish campuses in India.
