Hyderabad: UK, Telangana exploring options to set up British universities' off-campus centers in state

A high-level meeting was held in Hyderabad on Friday between British Deputy High Commissioner to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Gareth Wynn Owen, and Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) Chairman, Prof. V Balakista Reddy, to discuss avenues of collaboration in the higher education sector.

UK–Telangana Academic Collaboration

The discussions focused on strengthening academic linkages between institutions in the UK and Telangana. One of the key proposals on the table was the establishment of off-campus centers by UK universities within Telangana, subject to feasibility studies and regulatory approvals.

Other proposed areas of collaboration include joint certification of selected academic programs, integrated and dual degree programmes, and online education initiatives. Both sides showed interest in facilitating faculty and student exchange programs, enabling cross-cultural learning and broader academic exposure.

Research and Fellowship Opportunities

Joint research projects and collaborative publications through mutual funding agencies were also part of the discussion. The UK delegation expressed interest in working with Telangana universities to offer Chevening Fellowships, particularly in emerging domains such as science, innovation, and cybersecurity.

Speaking on the engagement, Gareth Wynn Owen said, “The UK values its educational ties with India, and Telangana’s academic ecosystem presents a strong platform for future collaboration. We are keen to explore models that will allow UK universities to expand their presence and deepen academic cooperation in the region.”

Telangana’s Perspective

Prof. V Balakista Reddy, Chairman of TGCHE, welcomed the initiative and said, “This meeting opens up new opportunities for Telangana’s universities to align with global standards through partnerships with UK institutions. Joint degree programs, fellowships, and exchange initiatives can significantly boost the quality and reach of our higher education.”

Prof. Reddy added that discussions would continue to ensure regulatory and academic frameworks align to support such partnerships.

Delegations and Officials

The meeting was also attended by TGCHE Vice Chairman II, Prof. S.K. Mahamood, and Secretary, Prof. Sriram Venkatesh. The UK Deputy High Commissioner’s delegation included Piyush Awasthi, Senior Technology Advisor and Education Sector Lead, and Nalini Raghuraman, Political Economy Advisor.

Both delegations agreed to form a follow-up working group to assess specific programs and draft implementation frameworks for proposed initiatives.