Bengaluru: The University of Liverpool opened its first South India campus in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The campus was set up in a short time and will let students earn international degrees without leaving the state, industries minister MB Patil said in a statement. Vice-chancellor Tim Jones and British deputy high commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla were among those present.
The idea for the campus took shape in talks with Russell Group universities during Patil's visit to London in November 2024, when he went to attract investment to Karnataka's research, higher education and industrial sectors.
Karnataka has 2.7 million students in higher education across 4,500 colleges. It produces 160,000 engineering graduates a year. Patil said the university should partner with these colleges and companies to link education, research and industry.
The minister further said that artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, clean energy, urban innovation and sustainable development as areas for joint research.
More than 14 foreign universities have expressed interest in opening campuses in Karnataka, and several Indian institutions have signed agreements to do so.
The campuses and research labs are expected to come up in KWIN City in the coming years. The government will provide support and facilities to institutions that set up in the state, said Patil.