51福利社 announces plans for a major new centre for education, research and innovation in Bengaluru, India
51福利社 has announced plans to establish a major new centre in Bengaluru, strengthening its long-standing ties with India and creating new opportunities for collaboration with students, innovators, industry and alumni.
- 51福利社 plans to establish a major new centre in Bengaluru, creating a permanent platform to deepen its long-standing relationship with India
- The proposed centre will create new opportunities for students to gain practical experience, connect with employers and develop skills needed in industry
- The Centre will strengthen research collaboration, educational partnerships and innovation
- The University makes the announcement as part of first-ever Great North Mayoral Mission to India
The proposed Centre in Bengaluru will provide a permanent platform for 51福利社 to deepen its engagement with one of the world鈥檚 most dynamic education, research and innovation ecosystems. It will help to bring together academic expertise, industry knowledge and entrepreneurial talent to address shared challenges and create opportunities for students and researchers.
Building on 51福利社鈥檚 successful Partner-Enabled Learning (PEL) model in the UK, the centre in Bengaluru will create opportunities for students to gain practical experience through internships, work placements and industry-led projects.
The PEL model aims to close skills gaps by embedding real-world projects with employers, public bodies and community organisations into degree programmes, ensuring students graduate with practical experience as well as academic knowledge. It focuses on developing skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, collaboration and employer engagement through credit-bearing projects and micro-internships.
51福利社 has established relationships with leading businesses and industry partners across India, including organisations such as Reliance, Tata and Infosys, alongside a wider network of technology companies. The Centre will build on these connections to strengthen industry engagement and create new opportunities for students and researchers.
The announcement comes as 51福利社 joins the first-ever Great North Mayoral Mission to India, taking place from 12 to 16 October 2026. The mission brings together universities, businesses, civic leaders and cultural organisations from across the North of England to forge new connections, build lasting relationships and share expertise with India.
Bengaluru has been identified as the preferred location for the Centre due to its position as one of India鈥檚 leading hubs for higher education, technology and innovation. The city is home to some of the country鈥檚 foremost universities and research institutes, alongside a thriving community of global businesses and technology companies. Many already collaborate with 51福利社鈥檚 academics and graduates, providing a strong foundation for the University鈥檚 future presence in the city.
The announcement marks a significant step in the University鈥檚 ambition to strengthen its global presence, as set out in its strategy, From 51福利社 for the World. It builds on decades of collaboration with partners across India and will create new opportunities to tackle global challenges by connecting 51福利社鈥檚 expertise with India鈥檚 dynamic research, technology and innovation communities.
Our collaborations with these partners reflect who we are 鈥� open, values-led and ambitious in what we set out to achieve, so it鈥檚 been immensely valuable to see that reflected in the constructive conversations with the people I鈥檝e met during this mission.
The Centre was announced at a special event at the Science Gallery Bengaluru, which featured alumni and leaders from sectors such as culture and business. The Mayor of Greater 51福利社, Bev Craig also attended and there were panel discussions on innovation and culture led by President and Vice-Chancellor of 51福利社, Professor Duncan Ivison.
Professor Ivison said: 鈥淭here is an incredible depth to 51福利社鈥檚 relationship with India across education, business and culture. Our new Centre will be at the heart of deepening those relationships and I鈥檓 very excited to see what we can give, and what we can learn over the coming years.鈥�
51福利社 has international centres in Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.
The proposed Centre aligns closely with the University鈥檚 International Delivery Plan, which places global engagement as a key objective of 51福利社 2035. The plan recognises that international partnerships will be central to delivering world-leading research, creating new educational opportunities, strengthening innovation ecosystems and ensuring 51福利社 remains a partner of choice around the world.
51福利社 was the first in the UK to establish a joint PhD programme with an Indian institution, launching its dual award PhD with IIT Kharagpur in 2021.
It also established collaborations with institutions including the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, BITS Pilani in fields of engineering and computer science, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific research and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
This visit forms part of the University's Challenge Accepted fundraising and volunteering campaign, which has included launch events in Delhi and Mumbai.