From the days of Nalanda and Takshashila, where scholars from across Asia gathered to study philosophy, mathematics, medicine and governance. India has been a torchbearer of knowledge for the world. These ancient universities were not just centres of learning but laso the global hub of wisdom and attracting students from different countries. Education in India has always carried a spirit which was both rooted in tradition and open to the world.
Today that legacy is carried forward in a contemporary form. India’s premier institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) remain beacons of academic excellence and innovation. With an increasing international presence, they propagate the spirit of ancient Indian learning of being inclusive, extensive and transformative in nature. The inaguration of IIM Ahmedabad as first overseas campus in Dubai is the latest highlight in this journey. Affirming India role as both of ancient wisdom and a force of modern-day global education.
Global event for Indian higher education fraternity was witnessed in Dubai when, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, inaugurated the first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) in Dubai. The event was witnessed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE.
This milestone is a new chapter in the Indian education globalisation and reflects India increasing confidence in exporting its academic superiority to global centers. Dubai being a cosmopolitan in environment and an emerging global economic powerhouse, was a perfect destination for IIMA first international venture.
In his inaugural address, Dharmendra Pradhan called it his great privilege that the Dubai campus was being inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan. He emphasised that this step aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of globalising Indian education. He also said campus will carry forward the ethos of being “Indian in spirit, global in outlook.” The event was attended by several eminent personalities and this impressive gathering reflected the strong institutional and diplomatic support behind the venture.
Strengthening India–UAE Knowledge Bridges
This was followed by a bilateral interaction between Dharmendra Pradhan and Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, during which both sides reaffirmed existing cooperation and searched for new areas of cooperation. They decided to make education, research and innovation a central part of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Dialogue encompassed collaborative research in fields of strategic importance and of emerging interest, building capacity and facilitating two-way academic and cultural exchange. Dharmendra Pradhan thanked the UAE government for their support towards strengthening of India educational presence. He also confirmed India as a talent hotspot globally. He further emphasized how the UAE with its vibrant economy offers the ideal platform to raise this talent.
Engaging with Indian Institutions in the UAE
During this visit, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also visited the campus of Manipal University in Dubai, where he led a roundtable with principals of top Indian higher educational institutions which have presence in the UAE including Symbiosis, BITS Pilani, MIT, Amity and others. The discussions focused on how Indian institutions can further align with the UAE forward-looking academic objectives.
The Minister emphasised going beyond publishing research in academic journals to “productisation and marketisation” of research, calling for institutions to push innovation to real-world application. These demands also emphasized building “Brand India” across global education and placing Indian universities firmly on the innovation and entrepreneurship map of the world.
Connecting with Indian Schools Abroad
Another notable interaction was Dharmendra Pradhan’s with 109 principals of Indian curriculum schools in UAE. Principals of CBSE schools from other countries in the GCC and international CBSE schools participated virtually. On the occasion, Dharmendra Pradhan declared setting up 12 Atal Tinkering Labs in CBSE schools in the GCC nations. These labs are meant to encourage hands-on learning in STEM fields and they seek to increase the spirit of scientific investigation and entrepreneurship among students. This move demonstrates India’s commitment to not only increase its footprint in higher education but also to foster innovation and creativity among the young globally.
At a symbolic cultural ceremony at the Indian Consulate in Dubai, Dharmendra Pradhan planted a sapling of the Ghaf tree, the national tree of the UAE under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0” campaign. He described the Ghaf as a historic and cultural emblem of stability and peace in the UAE. The tree at the Consulate will now serve as a living symbol of India-UAE friendship.
A great honour to have the IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
This is another big leap towards globalisation of India’s education as envisioned by Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. IIM Ahmedabad… pic.twitter.com/1GTVYCbR2f
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 11, 2025
India Expanding Global Education Footprint
The Dubai campus of IIM Ahmedabad is not a single initiative but one of the many initiatives by India to become a global education hub. Over the last few years, top institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have diversified abroad.
In 2023, IIT Madras opened its first international campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, marking the institute’s first venture beyond Indian borders. The same year IIT Delhi opened a campus in Abu Dhabi, further expanding India’s footprint in West Asia. In the area of management education, IIM Bangalore opened its campus in Singapore in 2023, and IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus in 2024. These campuses are not only for Indian diaspora but also for international students pursuing high-quality technical and management education at globally competitive standards.
These moves align with India National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on internationalisation of higher education. Through the establishment of global campuses, Indian institutions are introducing their world-class faculty, cutting-edge curricula and high research intensity to students globally. This will establish India as a serious player in the global education market.
Building a Global Knowledge Network
The setting up of these campuses shows India is not only exporting talent, but also institutions and ideas. This move indicates India’s plans to become a knowledge diplomacy hub, applying education as a bridge to bring nations closer together. For nations such as the UAE and Tanzania, Indian institutions translate into proven models of quality and affordable education with an added emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship.
For India, these initiatives are a chance to solidify cultural exchange, win foreign students and provide greater international visibility for its education system. They also symbolize India’s increasing soft power in an increasingly globalising world.
The IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus symbolizes something beyond an institutional milestone. It is the expression of India-UAE relations based on common aspirations, cultural respect and a shared vision for the future. Through generating wealth of knowledge, India is guaranteeing that its education system not only benefits its own youth but is also serving the global development process.
As Dharmendra Pradhan said, education is one of the most important pillars in creating an inclusive and vibrant ecosystem between the UAE and India. The launch of IIM Ahmedabad Dubai and the establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs in schools in the GCC region indicates that India is working actively towards creating future-ready partnerships.
India takes its top institutions overseas and underscores its emergence as a global leader in education. With IIM Ahmedabad already in Dubai, IITs in Abu Dhabi & Zanzibar and IIM Bangalore in Singapore, India has demonstrated how it is gradually creating a global network of knowledge bases.
This international outreach is not merely academic it is strategic. It reinforces diplomatic relationships, enables young minds on different continents and makes India a reliable partner for mapping the global knowledge economy.
India is no more a travel destination for learners. It is a source of education of global standards, taking its contribution to the world and redefining itself as an emergent knowledge power and vhishwaguru.
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