At the “Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City” event, Maharashtra’s leadership announced that five reputed foreign universities have received Letters of Intent (LOIs) to set up full-fledged branch campuses in Navi Mumbai. Under the NEP-2020 vision, these institutions will offer quality education at 25–30 % lower fees compared to studying abroad.
🎓 Universities Involved
- University of Aberdeen (UK)
- University of York (UK)
- University of Western Australia
- Illinois Institute of Technology (USA)
- Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy)
Two of these (York and Western Australia) have already signed MoUs worth around ₹1,500 crore each to develop their Navi Mumbai campus within the upcoming EduCity
📅 Timeline & Autonomy
- The universities have 18 months to operationalize their campuses.
- They’ll enjoy academic freedom—designing their own curriculum, fee structures, session timings, and admission policies, independent of reservation norms .
- NEP 2020 reforms allow such international branches and encourage globalization of Indian higher.
🌆 The EduCity Vision
- Situated within ~5 km of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the 250-acre EduCity is planned as a global education hub, complemented by medical, sports, and innovation zones
- It forms a key part of Maharashtra’s strategy to make Navi Mumbai a “Third Mumbai”—a world-class urban centre with strong academic infrastructure, seamless connectivity (including a 21 km sea link), and an upcoming international airport.
📌 Why It Matters
- Provides Indian students access to world-class global education without the need to leave the country—reducing costs related to tuition, travel, and living expenses.
- Aims to retain Indian talent and attract international students, reinforcing India’s position as a global knowledge hub .
This initiative marks a significant leap toward making international education more accessible and affordable in India, transforming Navi Mumbai into a vibrant international education hub.
