‘A homecoming for me’: Aberdeen Vice Principal Siladitya Bhattacharya on India plans and tutorial imaginative and prescient

The LoI was awarded throughout a particular ceremony in Mumbai hosted by the Authorities of India on 14 June, symbolising rising instructional cooperation between the 2 nations. The initiative builds on Aberdeen’s long-standing ties with India, cast by way of collaborations with over 200 establishments, together with IITs, AIIMS, ICAR, Manipal Academy, and Delhi College.

The proposed Mumbai campus is anticipated to launch with programmes in Computing and Information Science, Enterprise Administration, Economics, Synthetic Intelligence, and an MBA. Future choices might embrace Public Well being, Arithmetic, Psychology, Movie Research, and Worldwide Enterprise—areas of mutual strategic curiosity.

On this important event, Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, Vice-Principal for International Engagement on the College of Aberdeen, spoke completely to Hindustan Occasions Digital concerning the college’s India ambitions, tutorial imaginative and prescient, and what Indian college students can count on.

Listed here are edited excerpts from the interview:

It’s nice to know that the College of Aberdeen is coming to India. What’s thrilling about this transfer, particularly the choice to arrange campus in Maharashtra?

Thanks. Right now is a crucial milestone for us. We have obtained a Letter of Intent from the College Grants Fee, granting us provisional approval to maneuver forward with our proposal to determine a campus in Mumbai. This alerts our critical intent and marks the start of a major journey.

Our imaginative and prescient is to convey the standard, heritage, and ambition of a 500-year-old establishment right into a dynamic new setting. We wish to study from our college students all over the world whereas embracing the present globally linked information ecosystem.

We plan to start with key packages in enterprise and computing. Over time, we hope to broaden into areas like public well being, psychology, and even Movie Research—significantly becoming for Mumbai. A big share of our college students on the Aberdeen campus come from all over the world. Many need an

Aberdeen diploma, however not all can afford to journey to Northern Scotland. Due to assist from each the central and Maharashtra governments, we now have the chance to convey our packages nearer to college students right here.

How does this match into the college’s long-term technique?

To know that, we have to look again. We’re a 500-year-old college with a worldwide outlook. That ethos of openness stays central to our identification.

Our present technique, Aberdeen 2040, prioritises worldwide, inclusive, sustainable, and interdisciplinary schooling. Our core objective is to be open to all. With India’s youthful demographic, this transfer aligns completely with our mission—to take our tutorial mannequin to the place the scholars are.

You talked about Aberdeen’s uniqueness. What can Indian college students count on out of your tutorial providing?

Our packages mirror our values: inclusivity, internationalism, sustainability—each environmental and monetary—and interdisciplinarity. Right now’s college students don’t simply need pure specialisations. Enterprise intersects with AI, entrepreneurship, and finance.

Public well being connects with administration, international well being, and even sports activities and train science. AI cuts throughout disciplines from exhausting sciences to the humanities.

We additionally supply flexibility. At our residence campus, college students have the liberty to discover topics earlier than selecting their specialisation, because of Scotland’s four-year undergraduate mannequin.

When do college students usually specialise—third or fourth 12 months?

College students concentrate on third and 4th 12 months. Our construction permits for flexibility by way of a mixture of broad-based programs and specialised

modules. We introduce analysis strategies early, so college students are ready not only for jobs that exist at this time but additionally for careers that will not even exist but.

Are you able to share an instance?

Certain. In drugs, as an illustration, we encourage college students to discover humanities topics like literature or artwork historical past. This creates well-rounded professionals who don’t simply lengthen life however perceive its deeper worth. That’s the type of schooling we consider in.

How do you keep away from overwhelming college students with an excessive amount of data?

That’s the place schooling must evolve. In a world the place information are immediately accessible, what actually issues is important considering—the flexibility to make knowledgeable, value-based choices. Our instructing and assessments deal with analytical expertise and real-world software, quite than rote memorisation.

Inform us about this system length and pupil consumption?

Medical packages in Scotland run for 5 years plus medical coaching. In India, we plan to welcome our first batch in September 2026, beginning with enterprise and computing packages. Initially, we’ll function from a leased, totally fitted campus as a result of timelines. We count on to start with about 100 or so college students and scale up 12 months by 12 months. Inside two to a few years, we’ll assess the necessity for a everlasting campus.

What about college?

We’ll recruit college by way of a neighborhood entity, with some visiting from Scotland. Nevertheless, most shall be based mostly in India and employed globally. Many will possible be Indian—in spite of everything, India already provides expertise to establishments worldwide.

How will you keep tutorial high quality?

High quality is non-negotiable. All packages in India will undergo the identical rigorous approval and audit course of as these in Aberdeen. College shall be vetted, and packages shall be reviewed by tutorial oversight panels. The UGC additionally mandates parity, and we totally assist that.

Will Indian college students have the chance to review in Scotland?

Sure. We provide short-term tutorial exchanges. College students on the India campus will obtain the identical Aberdeen diploma. Those that need the complete Scottish expertise are welcome to use on to our UK campus as worldwide college students.

What about tuition and scholarships?

We’re rigorously learning the Indian market. This isn’t about revenue—it’s about creating entry. We plan to supply scholarships based mostly on advantage and monetary want, simply as we do in Aberdeen. Particulars are nonetheless being finalised.

Are there plans to broaden past Mumbai?

It’s too early to say. Proper now, we’re targeted on getting the Mumbai campus proper. However we’re enthusiastic about future potentialities.

What does this initiative imply to you personally?

It’s deeply private. I used to be born in India and studied overseas. This seems like a homecoming. I’m proud to be a part of this initiative.

What number of Indian college students are presently learning in Aberdeen?

A couple of hundred postgraduates. We’ve had Indian college students for many years, however numbers have grown considerably within the final 5 years.

Let’s return to the curriculum. Will it’s the identical in India?

It is going to be equal and aligned. We might adapt sure components to mirror native cultural or authorized norms, however the high quality and tutorial rigour would be the similar. The Mumbai campus shall be topic to the identical tutorial scrutiny as Aberdeen.

What about analysis and internships?

Analysis is integral. Undergraduate and postgraduate college students will interact in dissertations. We’ll construct a analysis cohort over time, together with PhD college students. We’re already in contact with India’s Nationwide Analysis Basis and are collaborating with Indian co-investigators on a number of grants.

Will college students in India be capable of spend a couple of years in Scotland?

Our imaginative and prescient for college kids enrolled within the Department campus is to supply a wonderful schooling in Mumbai and a College of Aberdeen diploma. We’re exploring the choice of brief alternate visits to Scotland.

However doesn’t learning overseas supply a unique type of publicity?

Completely. College students who need that full cultural expertise can apply to review at our UK campus. College students in India will obtain the identical diploma—with no need to relocate.

Earlier within the day, it was recommended that college students might solely must pay a 3rd or 1 / 4 of the abroad charge. Your ideas?

We’re assessing affordability. All international universities are navigating this new Indian mannequin. We’re dedicated to preserving prices affordable and providing scholarships to deserving college students. This isn’t a revenue-maximising train.

Will the scholarships be the identical as in Aberdeen?

They’ll be designed for the Indian context. We plan to order a portion of seats for scholarships, with choice based mostly on advantage or want. The main points are nonetheless being labored out.