New GIFT City campus in India expands Coventry University Group’s global footprint

Vice-Chancellor and Group CEO, Professor John Latham CBE, discusses Coventry University Group’s new GIFT City campus in India, focusing on the importance of business in the region.

At Coventry University Group we are constantly exploring ways to expand our operations and improve our education, research and enterprise offer. We are not alone in this and, as an increasing number of UK higher education institutions look to grow in this highly competitive sector, our ability and willingness to explore opportunities and apply our expertise in new markets becomes increasingly important.

This is not a step into the unknown and our track record of international success elsewhere is demonstrated by the launch of our branded campus in Kazakhstan, plans for our second campus in Egypt, a new campus exclusively offering Coventry University qualifications in Singapore and MoUs signed with industry leaders in Poland.

Why GIFT City in Gujarat?

India is on a journey of growth and opportunity and the country’s new National Education Policy (NEP) opens doors for overseas education providers, including policies to expand vocational and higher education in India.

The implementation of the NEP comes at a time of strengthening relations between India and the UK. In 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the United Kingdom and India on mutual recognition of academic qualifications.

The strategic importance of India has long been clear, and my colleagues have already highlighted the steps the new UK government should take to build closer ties in the region and how our Group can help to deepen relationships through the ‘living bridge’ between our two countries.

Efforts to diversify our portfolio with new overseas ventures are driven in no small part by government policy and rhetoric at home. As the inbound recruitment of international students has been made far more challenging, it is even more crucial for us to build partnerships and identify opportunities to provide education and training in new settings. Without leaving their own country, Coventry University GIFT City students will be able to earn a valued UK degree and develop the skills and attributes that are vital for India’s rapidly growing economy.

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) provides its own set of unique benefits. Strategically positioned between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, GIFT City is a rapidly evolving hub for financial and technological activities. Home to multinational banks like HSBC and JP Morgan, as well as the Bombay Stock Exchange, it is a new central business district committed to attracting local and international businesses. With further interest from globally recognised names like Rolls Royce, GIFT City’s strategic importance is set to continue to grow.

Becoming a neighbour to such prestigious organisations will offer our students the opportunity to put their learning into practice through work experience and internships as we build collaboration in education, research and innovation. These benefits will flow both ways as we also plan to offer degrees and CPD courses to employees of the neighbouring businesses to help upskill and develop their workforce and prepare them for the jobs of the future.

Building the foundations through business education

At Coventry University we have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to building leadership skills and preparing students for successful careers in business and beyond. I am delighted that we will soon be spearheading efforts to develop global business leaders in India through our BSc (Hons) International Business Management and BSc (Hons) Business and Finance programmes.

We are incredibly proud to offer a dynamic and enterprising education experience which challenges our students to address the practical and theoretical aspects of global business management. Our College of Business and Law is central to this approach, delivering courses that are designed to equip the next generation of business leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers.

As a university group, we also understand the importance of social impact. Through both research and global collaborations, we ensure that we have a lasting positive impact on our communities around the world. We engage with individuals, businesses and organisations to deliver a broad portfolio of grant-funded collaborative research, and we are also proud to maintain close links with business schools worldwide, including AACSB, EFMD, CABS and GBSN, to ensure we deliver the best in business education.

A step into the future

Our India Hub opened in New Delhi in March 2024 and has facilitated academic and research collaboration with strategic partners in India such as the Indian Institute of Technology – Ropar, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) University, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) and the MOHAN Foundation.

Our campus in GIFT City represents another part of our growing two-way relationship with India, and we are committed to delivering long-term impacts for the communities we will serve through the project.

By opening our new GIFT City campus, we are gaining unique access to a rapidly growing population with an appetite to learn. With the outstanding facilities on offer, we are helping to widen access to quality higher education while providing vital training and work experience to help address local skills gaps and support economic growth across the region.

We are proud to be pioneers and disruptors, and the launch of this new campus is an exciting milestone on our mission towards becoming a truly global education Group. With support from our India Hub in New Delhi, we are excited to continue expanding our reach in the region by fostering academic collaboration.