Hyderabad — A delegation from Telangana, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, held talks with academic teams at the University of Cambridge and the University of London in London to explore collaborative initiatives in education, research and entrepreneurship, according to reports.
Delegation aims and meetings
The meetings considered ways to develop academic programmes and research links in Hyderabad, promote joint incubation for start-ups and examine plans for establishing a University of London campus in the city. The delegation also engaged representatives from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and SOAS as part of discussions on the University of London’s proposals.
Present from Telangana were IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, officials K Ramakrishna Rao and Jayesh Ranjan alongside the Chief Minister, reported the press release. On the academic side, Jaideep Prabhu — who holds the Government of India-sponsored Chair of Marketing at Cambridge Judge Business School — and Professor Venkata Serish Gandikota, also of Cambridge Judge Business School and co-chair of Frugal AI, indicated interest in cooperation.
“I was pleased to lead the official Telangana Rising delegation to Senate House, University of London, for a roundtable with the University of London, including the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and SOAS. We discussed the University of London’s plans to establish a campus in Hyderabad, bringing world-class education and a wide range of programmes to Telangana’s youth,” the Chief Minister wrote on X, according to the report.
Proposed areas of collaboration
According to the account of the meetings, both sides agreed to work on a framework for:
- offering educational programmes and executive education in Hyderabad;
- promoting joint research projects and academic exchanges;
- supporting entrepreneurship and incubation linked to university research.
Officials said the aim is to position Hyderabad further as a global knowledge hub with enhanced opportunities for students and researchers. The discussions also explored how international partnerships could build capacity in higher education and facilitate global placements and research collaborations for Telangana’s youth.
Who met whom — a quick reference
| Telangana delegation | Academic / Institution |
|---|---|
| A Revanth Reddy (Chief Minister) | University of London (Senate House), LSE, SOAS |
| D. Sridhar Babu (IT & Industries Minister) | University of London partners |
| K Ramakrishna Rao; Jayesh Ranjan | University of Cambridge — Cambridge Judge Business School |
| — | Jaideep Prabhu; Professor Venkata Serish Gandikota (Cambridge) |
Context and potential impact
Establishing formal campuses or partnerships with leading international universities could widen options for Indian students seeking globally recognised degrees without travelling overseas, increase research collaborations and attract international faculty and investment. For Hyderabad, the proposals align with longstanding efforts to promote the city as an education and innovation destination, leveraging its IT and start-up ecosystem.
Any formal campus or franchise arrangement would require detailed agreements on academic standards, governance, regulatory approvals and financing. The University Grants Commission and other statutory bodies typically set conditions for foreign universities operating in India; these will be relevant if negotiations proceed to formal proposals.
Officials indicated that further follow-up discussions and frameworks will be developed to convert the initial interest into concrete programmes and incubation support. The delegation’s meetings are part of the state’s wider outreach to strengthen international linkages in higher education and research.
Students, parents and researchers seeking updates should watch for official notifications from the Telangana government and partner universities. For authoritative details on approvals and regulatory requirements for foreign campuses in India, see the Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission websites.
