Latest news with #MallikSundharam
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Illinois Tech expands to India with Mumbai campus
Illinois Tech University announced on May 6, 2025, that it has received formal approval from India's University Grants Commission (UGC) to open a new campus in Mumbai, making it the first American university authorised to establish a degree-granting campus in India. Set to welcome students in fall 2026, the Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields such as Computer Science, Engineering, and Business. Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi said, 'Illinois Tech has always operated at the intersection of innovation, opportunity, and global industry demand.' Mallik Sundharam, Vice President for enrollment management and student affairs at Illinois Tech, said, 'In the past five years, we've seen a more than 73 percent increase in graduate students from India choosing Illinois Tech. Our new Mumbai campus responds to this demand by delivering globally recognised, U.S.-accredited degrees in a format that is highly accessible, affordable, and locally contextualised.' According to the University, the Mumbai campus will offer the same experiential, industry-aligned curriculum that defines Illinois Tech's Chicago education. This includes the university's signature Elevate program, which guarantees all students access to hands-on research, internships, and career-accelerating experiences. Courses will be taught by globally recruited faculty, including professors from our Chicago campus. The Mumbai campus will also support cross-campus study options, giving students in both countries the opportunity to gain global exposure, broaden their networks, and participate in research collaborations that reflect the interconnected nature of today's economy. Mr. Echambadi, says, 'The leaders of tomorrow will come from every part of the world—and they will need to collaborate across borders, cultures, and industries. Illinois Tech is proud to be the first U.S. university to open a campus in India. But more importantly, we're ready to shape what global higher education can and should be.'
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Business Standard
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Illinois Tech first US varsity to get UGC approval, to open Mumbai campus
Chicago-based Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) has become the first American university to receive formal approval from India's University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish an independent, degree-awarding campus in the country. The development, according to a PTI report, marks the first time a US institution will directly operate a full-fledged campus under India's national higher education regulations. The new Illinois Tech Mumbai campus is set to commence operations in 2026, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in computer science, engineering, and business. The Mumbai campus will replicate Illinois Tech's signature academic model, combining theory with real-world exposure. As part of this, students will have access to the university's Elevate programme - an initiative that guarantees every student hands-on learning through internships, research, competitions, and collaborative projects. Courses will be taught by a globally-recruited faculty, which includes visiting professors from Illinois Tech's US campuses and educators with international academic backgrounds. 'Our new campus responds to this extraordinary demand by delivering globally recognised Illinois Tech degrees in a highly accessible, affordable, and locally contextualised format,' said Mallik Sundharam, vice president for Enrollment Management at Illinois Tech. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has welcomed the move, viewing it as a significant opportunity for students and employers alike. Illinois Tech: Strong academic credentials According to the 2025 US News & World Report, the undergraduate and graduate computer science programmes of Illinois Tech rank among the top 100 in the United States. Its business programmes also receive high marks: the university's Master's in management is ranked 15th, marketing 24th, and finance 26th by TFE Times. In terms of student outcomes, Opportunity Insights (2024) gave Illinois Tech the second spot for upward mobility among highly selective private colleges. Fulfilling the vision of NEP 2020 The move is closely aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes international collaboration and envisions India as a global knowledge hub by 2047. Illinois Tech's entry into the Indian education space comes just a year after UGC introduced new regulations allowing foreign universities to operate independently in the country. 'Illinois Tech's proposed Mumbai campus - India's first-ever American university campus to run STEM courses - embodies the visionary aspirations of the National Education Policy 2020,' said Somnath Ghosh, consul general of India in Chicago. 'The collaboration reflects our shared commitment to opportunity, cross-cultural partnership, and societal advancement through education,' he added. A groundbreaking first for India While foreign universities like Australia's Deakin University and University of Wollongong are setting up campuses in Gujarat's GIFT City under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), Illinois Tech is the first to enter the Indian market through the mainstream UGC pathway. Unlike the GIFT City institutions, which primarily cater to international finance and niche programmes, Illinois Tech will offer a full portfolio of degrees directly to Indian students under Indian regulations.
