Goa, 28 January 2024: The University of Surrey is set to open a world-class International Branch Campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, India, delivered in collaboration with experienced transnational education group GUS Global Services (GGS). Professor GQ Max Lu, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, and Dr Sharad Mehra, Regional CEO – Asia and Australia, Global University Systems (GUS) Asia Pacific, announced the collaborative project on the side lines of the QS India Summit 2025 in Goa today.
The project, which is at an advanced stage of pre-delivery, is contingent on regulatory approval from Gujarat’s International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) under the International Branch Campus Regulations, in place to position GIFT City as an Indian hub for international higher education providers. Professor Lu and representatives from GGS will be meeting with IFSCA in GIFT City on Friday 31 January to progress discussions.
Delivery of the new India campus will be a partnership combining the University of Surrey’s teaching and research excellence in business, international finance, computer science, cyber-security and other areas aligned with the strategic vision of GIFT City with GGS India’s proven capabilities as a strategic partner for higher education providers. All teaching and academic assurance will be delivered and led by University of Surrey staff. Ancillary services, such as strategic advice on India entry, student enrolment, campus establishment and operations management, will be provided by GGS, ensuring a seamless setup and operational excellence.
The University of Surrey and GGS are working closely with officials from the British High Commission and the British Council in India. The project will help cement ties between the two countries and is closely aligned with Government of India priorities to expand education and become a global knowledge superpower. The UK Government has expressed its appetite for collaboration across a range of scientific priorities and opportunities to drive greater growth for both countries.
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Professor GQ Max Lu, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, said:
“The University of Surrey campus at GIFT City will be a shining example of British education excellence and impact, contributing to transnational education in a more globalised world. We are proud and excited to be part of the GIFT City story, where we’ll combine India’s strengths in the global financial sector with the University of Surrey’s academic and teaching competencies in business, finance and computer science.
“Students can look forward to a world-class education delivered at the heart of a thriving new international finance and technology powerhouse for the region. Together we’ll be contributing to the skills and growth agendas of both our countries.”
Dr Sharad Mehra, Regional CEO – Asia & Australia, Global University Systems (GUS), said:
“This initiative seeks to expand world-class academic standards and global learning experiences available in India. It will offer Indian students the opportunity to access transformative education without leaving the country. The collaboration aligns with India’s higher education goals, such as improving global competitiveness, offering world-class education locally, and contributing to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on internationalisation.”
Aaron Etingen, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global University Systems, said:
“This strategic alliance between the University of Surrey and Global University Systems in GIFT City represents a significant milestone in transnational education. The collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision of transforming lives through education while supporting India’s ambitions to become a global knowledge hub. By bringing together international expertise and local knowledge, we’re creating pathways that will empower students and strengthen communities. It combines Surrey’s academic excellence with Global University Systems’ proven expertise in educational services, creating new opportunities for students in India to access world-class British education.”
The University of Surrey and GGS delegations will be travelling together from the announcement at the QS India Summit in Goa to GIFT City on January 31 for high-level meetings to accelerate progress on the project, which is designed to grow a talent pool in GIFT City, ready to thrive in a globally-connected world.
About GUS Global Services (GGS)
GGS is a pioneer in Indian higher education providing consulting and services to universities and institutions in several areas including academic strategy, product development, growth initiatives, research, enrolments, HR, legal and technology support.
GUS Global Services (GGS), a subsidiary of Global University Systems (GUS), has strategic partnerships with Pearl Academy, a leading creative education institution, and UPES, a research-focused multidisciplinary university.
Global University Systems (GUS) is an international education group equipping tomorrow’s students with the tools for success, transforming careers, lives and society. It is a global network of 30 higher education institutions offering diverse educational opportunities across multiple disciplines. It serves more than 122,000 students worldwide and reaches 20 million unique subscribers through its online courses.
About the University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a research-intensive university, conducting world-leading research, delivering excellent innovation in teaching and producing highly employable graduates. Areas of research focus include sustainability, connecting society and technology to equip humanity to live better, more sustainable lives; artificial intelligence, with research steering these new technologies so they remain people-centred in the way they operate, develop and are governed; and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the ways human and animal health overlap, interact and share common problems and solutions – within a ‘One Health, One Medicine’ research approach.
The University of Surrey is consistently independently ranked as high-performing. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), the University ranked in the top 20 in the UK for the overall quality of research outputs. In 2024, the University named 2025 Sunday Times Good University Guide runner-up for Student Experience University of the Year. It is ranked among the top 5% of the nearly 2,000 universities featured in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, reflecting its dedication to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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