Chancellor Lord Karan Bilimoria of Chelsea has led the University of Birmingham’s largest-ever delegation of academics to India. This historic visit underscores the University’s commitment to fostering global partnerships and enhancing educational collaborations with Indian institutions.

During the visit, Lord Bilimoria engaged with several of the University’s key partners, including Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited’s (HPCL) Green R&D Centre (HPGRDC) in Bengaluru. This visit comes on the heels of a February partnership between the University and HPCL to develop a groundbreaking hydrogen dispensing system poised to revolutionize India’s transport sector.

Lord Bilimoria also held discussions with leaders at NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s premier public policy think tank, to explore the University’s engagements in India. Additionally, he addressed students at Atlas Skilltech University in Mumbai, sharing insights on entrepreneurship drawn from his extensive business experience.

The delegation’s visit builds on the recent launch of a Joint Masters program in Sustainable Energy Systems between the University of Birmingham and IIT Madras. This initiative follows last year’s introduction of their first Joint Masters program in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

“Leading the University of Birmingham delegation to India in May, which covered Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Pune, I was accompanied by 20 academics as well as the provost of the University of Birmingham Dubai,” said Lord Bilimoria. “This was a great opportunity for me to meet some of our key research and education partners, and I was also delighted to meet hundreds of bright minds who are considering joining the University of Birmingham.”

Indian students play a crucial role in the University of Birmingham’s global community. The UK remains a prime destination for international students, offering a rich educational, social, and cultural experience. The graduate visa route continues to attract international students to top Russell Group Universities, such as Birmingham, which ranks among the world’s top 100 institutions.

During the visit, leading academics from the University met offer holders in Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune, providing students with insights into their future studies. Members of the Careers Network team were also present to advise students on career opportunities post-graduation. Notably, Birmingham is the most targeted British university by the UK’s leading graduate employers, according to ‘The Graduate Market in 2024’ by High Fliers.

The University recently announced substantial new scholarships for Indian students worth over £1 million, complementing existing scholarships. Students at the University’s Dubai campus can receive up to 40% scholarships.

For more information about the University of Birmingham and its scholarship opportunities, visit University of Birmingham.

The University of Birmingham ranks 35th globally in THE Most International Universities in the World, a testament to its high proportion of international students and staff, collaborative international research, and strong global reputation.

Notes to Editors:

• The University of Birmingham, ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions, attracts researchers, teachers, and over 8,000 international students from more than 150 countries to its campus.
• The University established its India Institute in January 2018, reflecting its commitment to forging meaningful education and research partnerships in India. The University is expanding its permanent office in Delhi, a long-term investment in its strategic partnership with India.
• The University enjoys successful research and education partnerships across India, including collaborations with IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India, Sports Authority of India, IISER Pune, IIT Mumbai, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
• Additional initiatives include clean cooling partnerships with the state governments of Haryana and Telangana, an AI partnership with the state government of Maharashtra, and surgical research with over 100 hospitals. The University is also involved in plastic pollution research in the River Ganga and a railways research program with Indian Railways.