“India can be a global knowledge destination. We have simplified the regulations,” Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan said at the International Education City event. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday (June 14, 2025) handed over letters of intent to five foreign educational institutions that had expressed interest in setting up campuses in India.

The institutions are Aberdeen University of Scotland, University of York in the U.K., Illinois Institute of Technology in the U.S., Western Australia University and IED, a design institute from Europe. These institutions will have their campuses at the ‘international education city’ that is being planned in Navi Mumbai.

The initiative is in line with the National Education Policy 2020, which allows foreign universities to establish campuses in India.

“India can be a global knowledge destination. We have simplified the regulations. We are enabling joint degrees, dual and twinning programs, academic credit mobility and institutional autonomy. Our approach is clear, open, inclusive, ambitious and confident,” Mr. Pradhan said at the event held in Mumbai.

In his speech, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke of more plans for the State. “This EduCity is in the vicinity of New Mumbai Airport. Apart from EduCity, we are creating a MediCity, we are creating a SportsCity, and also the one which we are yet to announce formally is our Innovation City. This Innovation City will be a one of its kind, playing host to the innovation ecosystem,” Mr. Fadnavis said. 

In a media interaction later, Mr. Fadnavis told reporters that decisions regarding hiring, affirmative action  and admission processes will be taken by the authorities of the universities and the State government would not intervene in that.