According to media reports, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are set to open its branches in the UK. India's high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Gaitri Kumar is said to have shared information related to IITs with UK universities, WION news reported.UK's University of Birmingham has termed this as a "real partnership" between India and UK as the former’s prestigious institute is being brought to the UK.
IIT-Kharagpur and the University of Manchester had already launched India-UK doctoral programme in 2021.
Asian Voice columnist Nitin Mehta said, “Ancient India was a knowledge powerhouse. The world's first residential university was built in Nalanda, India in 427CE. Historical sources indicate that the University had a long and illustrious life that lasted almost continually for 800 years from the fifth to the twelfth century CE. It was a residential University believed to have 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students at any one time. Students from many parts of the world came to study there. Amongst the subjects taught were Theology, Grammar, Logic, Astronomy, and Medicine.
“The great philosopher Chanakya was a student of this university. He was the Guru of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and author of the classic volume, 'Arthashastra' a Sanskrit text outlining theories and principles of governing a state. Nalanda was sacked by Bakhtiyar Khilji destroying 9 million manuscripts. It reversed human knowledge for centuries. Another ancient University was in Takshasila built in the 6th Century. Sixteen branches of learning were taught here presided by specialist professors. It was burnt by a tribe called White Huns who were from the other side of the Chinese Wall. Another university of repute was called Vallabhi in western India. It taught vocational courses like making boats, building houses, veterinary science and agriculture. India is now on the cusp of a breakthrough in the knowledge that will be of great significance in the coming decades. UK will benefit greatly from the best academic institutions in India.
