Government Approves IIFT's First Offshore Campus in Dubai

• The Indian government has approved IIFT’s proposal to set up its first offshore campus in Dubai.
• The Dubai campus will cater to the Indian diaspora and global learners, enhancing India’s educational presence in the Gulf region.
• IIFT will obtain necessary permissions from UAE authorities before launching operations.

In a significant step towards the global expansion of Indian higher education, the government has approved the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade’s (IIFT) proposal to establish its first overseas campus in Dubai. The move marks a milestone in India's educational outreach and aligns with the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

According to an official statement released on Friday, the proposal from the commerce ministry-backed IIFT has received approvals from the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission (UGC), and no-objection certificates from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs. The Dubai campus is expected to cater to the educational needs of the Indian diaspora as well as global learners in the Gulf region.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal lauded the development, stating, “This truly reflects the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020, marking a new chapter in the internationalisation of Indian education and its growing role in shaping thought leadership globally”.

Before commencing operations, IIFT will seek final permissions from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Ministry of Education has laid out clear conditions for the initiative, ensuring that there will be no diversion of faculty, academic infrastructure, or financial resources from the existing IIFT campuses in India to the Dubai campus.

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“There shall be no diversion of financial resources from the revenues generated in the domestic campus of IIFT, New Delhi to the proposed offshore campus at Dubai in any form”, the ministry clarified in its order dated May 15.

Established in 1963 as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, IIFT has been a pioneer in grooming professionals in international business and trade. With existing campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), the institute offers a wide portfolio of programs including its flagship two-year MBA in International Business and a PhD in Management.

The Dubai campus is set to broaden the global footprint of IIFT and enhance India’s role in international education by providing world-class management education tailored for the global marketplace.