Savitribai Phule Pune University Expands Global Reach with New Centres Approved in Four Countries

Pune:

Adding a significant milestone to its international presence, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is set to establish academic centres in four more countries. Following the successful launch of its academic centre in Qatar in May 2021, the university’s management council has now approved new centres in Georgia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan.

Pune has long been a top destination for foreign students pursuing higher education in India, with SPPU being a preferred choice for students, particularly from African and Gulf nations. Therefore, as part of its global outreach initiative, the university’s Qatar centre opened three years ago. Notably, this centre has already enrolled over 500 students across various courses. Building on this success, SPPU is moving forward with plans to extend its presence to another four countries around the Middle East region.

In a recent management council meeting, the proposal for establishing SPPU academic centres in Georgia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan was thoroughly discussed. Representatives from these nations had previously expressed interest in hosting university centres in their countries, leading the management council to grant approval for the expansion. With technical processes underway, these centres are expected to move forward in the coming months.

There is a strong push to internationalise education under the National Education Policy, which aligns with the university’s plans. The SPPU Vice-Chancellor Suresh Gosavi said, “Proposals for establishing centres in Georgia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan were brought by representatives from these countries. Following approval from the management council, we are moving towards issuing letters of intent, with the centres to be managed in partnership with local authorities.”