University of Birmingham opens first overseas office in India

The University of Birmingham has opened its first overseas office in India that will focus on recruiting students besides building partnerships with Indian institutions and developing research collaborations.

“This also marks the university’s 100 year association with India. In 1909, we welcomed our first students from India to study for degrees in mining and commerce,” Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham, told Business Standard. From the office in New Delhi, the university plans to support its alumni, consolidate research collaboration and provide local services to those students who want to come and study at the university in the UK. The university has also partnered with Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies to look at how faith communities and faith based organisations have engaged with post-conflict situations in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Moreover, Birmingham University’s Automotive Safety Centre is working with IIT Delhi to explore ways of reducing road traffic accidents in India. “But we are also keen to explore opportunities of delivering some of our courses in India, to make it easier and more affordable for those students who are not able to study at our Edgabston campus. There has been a modest increase in the applications from Indian students,” added Eastwood. Currently, there are about 150 Indians of the 28,000 total student strength.

The varsity is also in talks with Delhi Technological University for joint programmes, research development and faculty development programmes.

Eastwood says there has been an 11 per cent increase in the applications this year and the university plans to increase the number of post graduate seats from the current 6,000. For this, the faculty strength would also increase specially in research areas of artificial intelligence and computers.

Birmingham University is also looking to develop strategic partnerships with universities in the US, Australia and China.