Latest news with #TimJones
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Bengaluru's entrepreneurial spirit drew us to India: V-C Tim Jones on Liverpool university's independent campus
The University of Liverpool, a globally ranked UK institution, is set to open its first independent campus in India by September 2026 in Bengaluru, marking a significant milestone as the second major UK university after Southampton to establish a presence in the country. With a strong focus on forging industry partnerships to enhance student employability, the campus aims to deliver world-class education tailored to the nation's dynamic job market, replicating the success of its acclaimed China venture. Speaking to The Indian Express, Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, emphasised that 'Bengaluru's entrepreneurial spirit' drew the institution to set up a campus in India. The decision to choose Bengaluru, he said, was also driven by 'the university's long-standing collaborations in the city, including a 20-year partnership with Nimhans (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) on infectious disease research' which played a crucial role in forming World Health Organization's (WHO) vaccine guidelines for Japanese encephalitis, saving an estimated 2 lakh lives. Collaborations with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Unilever further solidified the city's appeal as a hub for innovation and research. 'Bengaluru's entrepreneurial spirit and demand for higher education make it the perfect fit,' Jones noted. He also highlighted the university's commitment to building robust ties with local and multinational companies to ensure graduates are job-ready. 'We are signing MoUs with companies like Wipro and Axis Bank to provide placements, work experience, and industry-driven curriculum input,' Jones said. 'This model, successful in Liverpool with partners like Unilever, will be adapted to Bengaluru's vibrant, high-tech ecosystem.' Welcoming the varsity's entry into Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, 'Karnataka has always been at the forefront of education and innovation. The University of Liverpool's decision to set up its first foreign campus in Bengaluru reinforces our status as a global knowledge destination. We welcome them wholeheartedly and are committed to extending all support to make this venture a grand success.' The Bengaluru campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in high-demand fields such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Business Management, Accounting & Finance, Biomedical Sciences, and Games Design. These programmes will mirror the curriculum and quality of Liverpool's UK campus, ensuring global recognition of degrees. The campus, approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in just three to four months following an application in December 2024, will start with a few hundred students and aims to grow to 5,000 in five years and 10,000 in ten years. A blended faculty model will prioritise local hires, with a small proportion of Liverpool-based staff ensuring academic consistency. A University of Liverpool Provost will oversee operations and maintain global standards. Addressing affordability concerns, Jones acknowledged India's diverse economic landscape. 'We are working on a fee structure sensitive to the local context, with details and scholarship information to be announced soon,' he said. Sustainability will also be embedded across the curriculum, particularly in fields like AI, where energy consumption is a growing concern. Unlike its joint-venture campus in Suzhou, China, which hosts 27,000 students, the Bengaluru campus will be a fully independent Liverpool entity, supported by Indian operational partners. While the exact location is yet to be finalised, an announcement is expected soon. The university dismissed any plans for additional overseas campuses. Chandru Iyer, British Deputy High Commissioner in Bengaluru, said: 'The UK and India have made a commitment to refresh and deepen our partnership to deliver even more for both countries. Our expanded partnership will deliver iconic, forward-looking collaborations in diverse areas such as AI and semiconductors, higher education campuses, and green energy initiatives. The announcement of Liverpool University opening a campus in Bengaluru is both evidence and a celebration of the UK-India partnership.' He added, 'The Technology Security Initiative, announced in July 2024, will deliver crucial collaboration on telecoms innovation and unlock investment across emerging technologies. Furthermore, the UK-India FTA announced recently delivers on the UK government's core mission of growing the economy, raising living standards, and putting money in people's pockets.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
University of Liverpool set to be Bengaluru's first foreign varsity campus, to bring in game design, AI courses
Bengaluru: The University of Liverpool, UK, will bring its unique programme in game design, along with computer science, artificial intelligence, data science in business, business management, accounting and finance, and biomedical sciences programmes to its Bengaluru campus from 2026. The university, which will be the first foreign university to open a campus in Bengaluru, signed the letter of intent in Delhi on Monday and announced its arrival on Tuesday in Bengaluru. The varsity will open next summer in Aug 2026 and start teaching from Sept. While the plan is to begin with a few hundred students, the varsity hopes to reach 10,000 students in 10 years. "We have a big gaming industry in Liverpool. The games design programme comes from one of our humanities departments and one of our science departments. It is a very attractive programme in the UK, and we think it will be so there as well," said Prof Tim Jones, vice-chancellor, University of Liverpool. "The degree programmes are the same ones we run in Liverpool, with the same curriculum. Part of the reason why we chose Bengaluru is the partnerships we've already got in the city — with IISc and nimhans. We've had a 20-year relationship with Unilever. So we'll be building a network of collaborations with other universities and companies so that we can really do some impactful research as well," the VC said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Espalhe a sua marca para milhares de pessoas Balinhas Personalizadas Solicite orçamento Undo The land for the campus is being identified but the VC refused to divulge the location. Sources said the university is considering the campus of Azim Premji University, among others, while the state govt is also keen on bringing them to KWIN city, which is still in the planning stage. The VC also did not reveal fees or scholarship details. "The robust placement system for internships, placements, work experience in Liverpool is something we are proud of. And we intend to do something very similar here in Bengaluru. But of course, we'll be working predominantly with the local employers to achieve that," he said. The university has signed MoUs with various companies, including Wipro. The university has a foreign campus in China, for the past 20 years, with 27,000 students. "We have a lot of experience in establishing a campus in another country, growing its scale and quality," he added. Western Sydney University chooses Noida Western Sydney University, which initially expressed interest in setting up a campus in Bengaluru, has now picked Noida to set up a seven-acre campus. With this, the University of Liverpool is set to be Bengaluru's first foreign university campus. It may be recalled that in Nov 2024, WSU had announced plans to start a campus in Bengaluru, offering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) courses, with a focus on agriculture. The then Australian High Commission said WSU had deep partnerships in research with Bengaluru, which it hoped to strengthen with a campus. However, WSU has now signed an MoU with Uttar Pradesh govt. It may be noted that UP's higher education incentive policy 2024 offers financial incentives to attract domestic and international institutions.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Bengaluru campus of University of Liverpool to start operations in September 2026
The University of Liverpool, founded in 1881 in Liverpool, U.K., will open its campus in Bengaluru in September 2026. The Bengaluru campus would be grounded in the university's research-intensive culture and internationally recognised academic standards, said Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, after making the announcement on Tuesday. According to Prof. Jones, the initial set of programmes will include business management, accounting and finance, computer science, biomedical sciences, and game design, offered for the first time by a U.K. university campus in India. A broader portfolio of disciplines is expected to be added in subsequent phases. 'The state of Karnataka's reputation as a knowledge and technology powerhouse makes it an ideal home for the university's campus in India,'' he said. According to officials, the university will commence operations from a temporary campus, while the location to build a permanent campus and land and investment required etc. were yet to be decided. Welcoming the university's entry into Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: 'Karnataka has always been at the forefront of education and innovation. The University of Liverpool's decision to set up its first foreign campus in Bengaluru reinforces our status as a global knowledge destination.'' M.C. Sudhakar, Minister for Higher Education, termed it a 'significant leap'' in Karnataka's education system and the presence of University of Liverpool would further the educational ecosystem of the state. Speaking on the occasion, M.B. Patil, Minister for Large & Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, said the collaboration will drive deeper ties between academia and sectors like electronics, aerospace, and biotechnology. He invited the University of Liverpool to explore KWIN City (a Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation City being developed by the State government between Doddaballapur and Dobbspet) to base this partnership. Chandru Iyer, British Deputy High Commissioner for Karnataka and Kerala, said the U.K. and India have made a commitment to refresh and deepen their partnership to deliver even more for both countries. Their expanded partnership would deliver iconic, forward-looking collaborations in diverse areas such as AI and semiconductors, higher education campuses, and green energy initiatives. The University of Liverpool also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with city-based tech firm Wipro to establish a high-impact alliance designed to advance research, spearhead innovation, and cultivate future-ready talent through targeted skill development.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Same degree, same standards': Liverpool V-C on new Bengaluru campus offering UK-equivalent courses
The University of Liverpool is set to open its first independent campus in India by July 2026, marking the entry of a second major UK university setting up a campus in the country. The new campus, in Bengaluru, will offer undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes identical in curriculum and quality to those taught at the Liverpool home campus. Speaking to Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones detailed the University of Liverpool's vision for its India operations, emphasising its commitment to maintaining global academic standards while adapting to the 'local context'. 'It will be the same degree programmes that we'll teach in Liverpool, so that standard will be very high,' he said. 'We will be appointing a University of Liverpool provost who will oversee the campus and be responsible for academic quality.' Why India and why now? When asked why a globally ranked university would look eastward to India, Jones framed it as a natural evolution. 'We attract about 8,000 international students to the University of Liverpool. A significant number are Indian, about 1,000 postgraduates annually,' he said. 'But we realise some students prefer to stay in India while receiving a high-quality global education.' When asked if this would discourage students aspiring to study abroad, in the UK or other destinations, Jones clarified that the University of Liverpool sees the India campus as serving a different demographic. 'Those students who want to spend three years in Liverpool, we'll still want them to do that,' he said. 'But we're catering for a group of students who want a more local, high-quality education.' On regulatory hurdles, Jones said the approval process with the University Grants Commission (UGC) was fair and efficient. 'The whole process, from application to approval, took only a few months,' he explained. 'There was an interview as part of that process. It was proportionate, with appropriate due diligence by the Indian government.' 'However, the idea of setting up a campus in India has been in the works for some time now,' he added. 'Over the past year or so, we've been in discussions with a wide range of partners to truly understand how to make this successful.' More than 50 foreign universities have reportedly applied to open campuses in India since the policy door was opened. Liverpool is among the earliest to secure final approval. 'We're committed to delivering a truly global university experience here in India,' Jones concluded. 'And we're excited for what the future holds.' Faculty members will be sourced locally When international universities expand, one of the biggest challenges is ensuring consistent academic standards and faculty excellence across campuses. Asked whether the university would fly in professors from the UK campus or hire locally, the vice-chancellor said that there would be a blended model, one that prioritises Indian academic talent. But at the same time, there will be faculty from the Liverpool campus. 'We want more professors locally, more academic staff, local staff,' said Jones. 'We will have some people from Liverpool itself, but that will be quite a small proportion of the overall staffing.' This is not the first overseas campus that the university has established. Founded nearly two decades ago in 2006, the Xi'an Jiaotong – Liverpool University (XJTLU) is now one of the leading universities in China. According to the vice-chancellor, the university campus in Bengaluru aims to replicate the successful transnational model used in its China joint venture. XJTLU in Suzhou now hosts over 27,000 students. However, the India campus will be a fully independent Liverpool entity, supported by Indian operational partners, specific details of which will be announced over the next few months. Will University of Liverpool degrees from its Bengaluru campus be recognised globally like UK degrees? When asked if the degrees awarded in India will hold the same recognition globally, Jones was unequivocal. 'Yes, the programmes will be the same,' he stated, 'and there will also be opportunities for mobility for even those students who choose to study in Bangalore and then want to go to Liverpool.' Much like the China campus, students at the university's India campus may opt for transfer pathways or short-term mobility programmes. 'We won't necessarily use exactly the same model,' he clarified, 'but over the course of the next few weeks and months, we'll announce exactly how it's going to work.' What courses will launch soon after the Bengaluru campus opens? Admissions are expected to begin in 2026 for a limited set of courses initially, focusing on high-demand areas like computer science, data science, AI, business management, accounting & finance, biomedical sciences, and games design. 'We'll start with a relatively small number of degree programmes and grow the range each year,' Jones said, noting that both undergraduate and postgraduate offerings would be available. 'We're planning to grow to about 10,000 students in 10 years — 5,000 in five years.' The campus will also include on-site student accommodation for those who require it, he clarified. Placements and industry linkages On job placements, Jones assured that the university would replicate its strong industry collaboration model from the UK. 'We'll work very closely with a whole range of employers,' he said. 'We already have MOUs and are starting those relationships… but we also need to learn the local context. What happens in Liverpool won't be exactly the same as what happens in Bangalore.' The university has partnerships with companies like Unilever and AstraZeneca in the UK and is looking to forge similar ties in India. Collaborations with institutions like NIMHANS and AIIMS in Delhi are already underway in areas such as public health and oncology. Affordability and fee structure With rising concerns around the affordability of international education, especially in the UK and the US, the V-C acknowledged the pricing sensitivity in India. 'We're fully aware of the concept. It's a challenge everywhere,' Jones admitted. 'We'll announce the details of the fees in the next few weeks and months… and ensure people are aware of scholarships available well in time for applications.' Sustainability and curriculum integration Asked how the university is addressing the growing focus on sustainability, Jones said that it's being integrated into every discipline. 'Sustainability is now embedded more and more in all of our courses,' he said. 'For instance, in computer science, AI uses tremendous amounts of energy. We need to educate computer scientists about those challenges.' Standalone courses in sustainability exist, but the emphasis is on cross-curricular awareness, he said. Sharing his long-term vision for the Bengaluru campus, Jones said in a separate conversation that the university aimed to build much more than just an academic outpost. 'The campus will have a strong research component. We will be connected to all the local companies, big companies, other organisations, the health organisations and so forth,' he said. 'It will be a destination of choice for the best talent, whether it be students or staff, and people will be talking about it in a really positive way.'
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UK's University of Liverpool is coming to Bengaluru: VC Tim Jones shares what's ahead for Indian students
In a landmark development for India's higher education sector, the University of Liverpool has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open the country's first foreign university campus in Bengaluru. The announcement was made at an event attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday, 26 May. Part of the UK's prestigious Russell Group, the University of Liverpool will welcome its first batch of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026. Speaking to HT Digital at the launch event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones shared the vision behind the initiative, what Indian students can expect, and how the new campus fits into the university's global expansion plans. We are a global university, and forming international partnerships is integral to our DNA and strategy. We've had an overseas campus in China—XJTLU—for nearly 20 years, which now serves 27,000 students. So, we have a proven track record of launching and sustaining successful international campuses. In India, we've been deepening collaborations, especially in research, with several institutions over the years. The University of Liverpool is also one of the largest recruiters of Indian students among Russell Group universities, with around 1,000 postgraduates enrolling annually. With recent policy changes enabling international universities to establish campuses in India, we saw an ideal opportunity to strengthen our footprint. Bengaluru was a natural choice due to our existing partnerships and the city's dynamic ecosystem. Vision 2031 marks our 150th anniversary, and our ambition is to become a Top 100 global university by then. International partnerships—whether in research, education, or academic collaborations—are key pillars of that strategy. India, with its vibrant economy and demographic advantage, offers immense potential. Our increased engagement here supports our globalisation goals and opens real opportunities for impactful collaborations. Bengaluru stood out because many of our existing collaborations are based here, such as with IISc, NIMHANS, and companies like Unilever. It's a tech-driven city with a large, young population seeking quality education. The Letter of Intent lays the groundwork for our Bengaluru campus, which will open in August 2026 and begin teaching in September. We aim to grow the campus to 10,000 students within 10 years. Initial programmes will include computer science, data and AI, business management, accounting and finance, biomedical sciences, and game design. These will mirror what we offer in Liverpool but be tailored to local industry demands. Yes, the curriculum will maintain the same academic standards, with contextualisation to suit the Indian and regional ecosystem. It will be a hybrid model. A few faculty members will come from Liverpool, but the majority will be recruited locally. All faculty will meet our high academic standards. Absolutely. Just as we do in Liverpool, we'll implement a comprehensive training programme. A Provost will lead the Bengaluru campus and oversee faculty recruitment, training, and quality assurance. Yes. We intend to offer flexible pathways, including opportunities for students to spend part of their course at our Liverpool campus. This has worked well at our China campus, and we aim to replicate it here. Yes, student mobility is a key part of our global education model. While most students are expected to be from India, we envision this as a global campus. Diversity is important to us, and we aim to attract students from different parts of the world. We have experience doing this globally—whether in Liverpool or in China. The Provost will also be responsible for fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students. They'll access a world-class, research-intensive education at a more affordable cost. The degree will be identical to what students receive in Liverpool, and we'll offer strong industry linkages, internships, and research opportunities. Yes. The two campuses will be deeply integrated. Faculty and researchers will collaborate across locations, and Bengaluru will become a hub for joint research activities. Yes, fees in Bengaluru will reflect local economic conditions. The full fee structure will be announced soon. Definitely. We're already working with IISc, NIMHANS, AIIMS, and companies like Unilever. We'll continue expanding these collaborations across disciplines. Employability is a top priority. We'll leverage our Liverpool experience to offer internships, placements, and industry exposure. We've signed MoUs with several organisations and will build a strong support system for student careers. We expect to have 5,000 students by 2030, expanding to 10,000 by 2036. We'll offer a wide range of programmes, collaborate closely with industry and academia, and create a globally connected, thriving education and research environment in Bengaluru. The campus will feature modern academic buildings, research centres, student residences, and essential amenities. It will have the look, feel, and academic rigour of our Liverpool campus. More details will be shared soon. Yes, we plan to offer scholarships. Specifics will be announced well before admissions open so students can plan ahead.
