Honest evaluation is vital :::: Collaboration with Foreign Universities : GIFT City has four such ties :::: "Modi had a visionary approach of boosting financial services, technology, and education"

A Niti Aayog report in 2025 said the state of Gujarat took a decisive step as early as 2020 by setting up Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU) in Gandhinagar, positioning itself ahead of many states in attracting global academic collaboration.

This also helped retaining Indian talent within the country.  

Established in partnership with the University of Edinburgh at Scotland, it is also the world's first bio-tech university. Spread over nearly 23 acres at GIFT City, the university houses advanced research infrastructures worth Rs 80 crore. 

The Niti Aayog highlights works like these as benchmarks for education reforms. 

Top-ranked global universities operate within GIFT city. Australia's Deakin University and the University of Wollongong are active, alongside incoming UK institutions like Coventry University and Queen's University Belfast. 

The Gujarat Knowledge Society (GKS) partners with global entities—such as the US-based Bentley Systems—to supply industry-standard software tools free to local students and faculties, boosting technical competence.  

As they say - honest evaluation is vital for successful implementation. 

The globalisation of higher education has taken a bold new step in India with the establishment of foreign universities at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT). Situated in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, GIFT IFSC is India’s first operational International Financial Services Centre, and it is fast evolving into a comprehensive global hub not just for finance and tech, but also for education. Success in 'education' in these areas is linked to digital diplomacy in more ways than one. It is also the right reflection of the power of human potentials and soft power projection. 

Experts say successful management of the large number of foreign students who come to India in general - and Gujarat in particular - each academic session (or year) is critical. 

"In terms of long term benefits; the foreign students who returned to their respective countries or go elsewhere for professional assignment with positive experiences actually become lifelong foreign friends of India and of the state of Gujarat," says academician Disha Javeri.  

Agreeing with her even others say -- academicians and students are vital 'ambassadors of good will' -- as the opinions and the impressions formed during university days remain as permanent and long lasting features in one's professional life. However, those in the know of things on these matters say until 2014 or even say by 2016-17; it was found that "very little" was being debated and taught about India in foreign universities through academic curriculum. 

This was attended to by 2015 both by the Modi Govt in the centre and also the authorities in Gujarat. India - that way - is not only a new experience to them; it is a nation worth studying, working and also making investments. 

As of mid-2025, four foreign universities have formally established their presence at GIFT IFSC. The two pioneer institutions—Deakin University which ranks 197 in QS Global World University Ranking and University of Wollongong -- both hailing from Australia commenced operations in 2024. 

They have set a precedent for academic excellence and global collaboration. Deakin University has established a strong foothold by launching postgraduate programmes in areas such as Business Analytics and Cybersecurity, tailored to meet the dynamic needs of India’s rapidly growing tech and finance sectors.

Deakin’s GIFT campus concluded its first placement cycle in May 2025 with remarkable success. Nearly a quarter of its first cohort of Master of Business Analytics students secured job offers from the National Australia Bank (NAB) Innovation Centre India.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel addressed Convocation Ceremony of First Graduating Batch at Deakin University–GIFT City : March 2026  CM 

CM Patel said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister, Gujarat has achieved several new milestones in the field of education. With a visionary approach, efforts were made to provide the youth and students of Gujarat access to world-class educational opportunities at their doorstep. 

As a result, sector-specific universities such as the Forensic Sciences University, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Maritime University, Rashtriya Raksha University, and National Law University have been established in the state. Bhupendra Patel further stated that GIFT City stands as a living example of the Prime Minister’s visionary approach, where financial services, technology, and education have come together uniquely, with four foreign universities now operational.  

Under the 'Loan for Study Abroad Scheme' implemented by Gujarat Govt, the annual family income limit has been raised Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.  

Gujarat recently established a strategic partnership between the Gujarat Knowledge Society (GKS) and the US-based infrastructure software company Bentley Systems on June 12, 2026.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed by GKS (under the Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Gujarat) and Bentley Systems.

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