In a move to strengthen academic and research collaborations, British-Indian businessman Karan Faridoon Bilimoria spearheaded the University of Birmingham's largest-ever academic delegation to India last month.
Bilimoria, a member of the House of Lords and Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, is also the founder and chairman of the global beer brand Cobra Beer.
The visit, spanning Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Pune, included 20 academics and the provost of the University of Birmingham Dubai.
During his visit, Bilimoria engaged with key partners such as Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited's (HPCL) Green R&D Centre (HPGRDC) in Bengaluru. This follows the February launch of a partnership between the University of Birmingham and HPCL to develop an innovative hydrogen dispensing system aimed at revolutionising India's transport sector.
Bilimoria also held discussions with leaders at the Government of India's public policy think tank NITI Aayog to explore the university's ongoing engagements in India. In Mumbai, he addressed students at Atlas Skilltech University, sharing insights on entrepreneurship based on his own business experiences.
Highlighting the significance of these engagements, Bilimoria stated, "Leading the University of Birmingham delegation to India in May, I was accompanied by 20 academics as well as the provost of the University of Birmingham Dubai. This was a great opportunity for me to meet some of our key research and education partners and I was also delighted to meet hundreds of bright minds who are considering joining the University of Birmingham."
The visit coincides with the launch of a new joint masters programme in sustainable energy systems between the University of Birmingham and IIT Madras, expanding on last year's introduction of a Joint Masters programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Indian students play a crucial role in the University of Birmingham's global student community. "Britain is a great place to study - very much open for the business of learning," Bilimoria remarked. "The graduate visa route continues to attract international students to the UK and our top Russell Group Universities, such as Birmingham, ranked in the top 100 in the world, are welcoming Indian students."
The delegation provided prospective students in Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune with opportunities to learn about their future studies directly from academic staff. Students also received career guidance from members of the university's careers network team.
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