June 16, 2025: The Maharashtra government has awarded Letters of Intent (LOIs) to five prestigious international universities as part of its visionary plan to establish a 250-acre ‘EduCity’ near the forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. This initiative is designed to bring world-class higher education opportunities to Indian students without the need to study abroad.
The universities selected include the University of Aberdeen and the University of York from the United Kingdom, the University of Western Australia, the Illinois Institute of Technology from the United States, and Italy’s Istituto Europeo di Design. These institutions are expected to begin operations within 18 months and will offer academic programmes at fees estimated to be 25–30% lower than those charged at their overseas campuses, significantly improving access to global education for Indian students.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that this development is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes the establishment of foreign university campuses in India. He further emphasised that EduCity will serve as a hub not only for academic excellence but also for research, innovation, and industry partnerships.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remarked that this move strengthens India’s standing as a preferred global education destination. Discussions are already ongoing with other international institutions to further expand the EduCity initiative. The presence of these universities is expected to have a wider impact, encouraging more foreign institutions to consider India for future academic expansion.
As the EduCity project gathers momentum, it is poised to play a crucial role in Maharashtra’s strategy to build a knowledge-based economy, attract global academic talent, and offer Indian students access to diverse, high-quality, and affordable international education within the country.
Source: Urban Acres
