Media Releases

University of Toronto expands global reach with new India office

November 10, 2011

TORONTO, ON — The Uni­ver­si­ty of Toron­to will part­ner with the Uni­ver­si­ty of British Colum­bia to open an office in New Del­hi, India, strength­en­ing its pres­ence in one of the world’s most vibrant and inno­v­a­tive nations.

The office will be tasked with devel­op­ing insti­tu­tion­al part­ner­ships with gov­ern­ment, indus­try, and aca­d­e­m­ic insti­tu­tions.

U of T Pres­i­dent David Nay­lor is mak­ing the announce­ment in New Del­hi, India, just weeks after launch­ing the India Inno­va­tion Insti­tute — a joint ven­ture of U of T’s Munk School of Glob­al Affairs and Rot­man School of Man­age­ment. The insti­tute brings togeth­er researchers across the uni­ver­si­ty and around the world who are inter­est­ed in Indi­an inno­va­tion.

“India is a lead­ing glob­al inno­va­tor with many excel­lent schol­ars and stu­dents.  We are excit­ed to work with UBC in strength­en­ing our shared ties with gov­ern­ments, indus­try, post-sec­ondary insti­tu­tions and sec­ondary schools in India,” says Nay­lor.

By 2050, India is expect­ed to be the fifth-largest econ­o­my in the world, with aver­age house­hold income match­ing that of the Unit­ed States and U.K. Its pro­ject­ed pop­u­la­tion of two bil­lion will make it the largest coun­try in the world. U of T has a long his­to­ry of build­ing col­lab­o­ra­tions with Indi­an insti­tu­tions, gov­ern­ment, and indus­try to advance research, schol­ar­ships, edu­ca­tion and train­ing.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of British Colum­bia is the ide­al part­ner in this ven­ture.  A lead­ing aca­d­e­m­ic and research orga­ni­za­tion with a decades-long ser­vice his­to­ry in India, UBC is com­mit­ted to a glob­al reach and vision. “The Uni­ver­si­ty of British Colum­bia is delight­ed that the Uni­ver­si­ty of Toron­to is join­ing us in this impor­tant new endeav­our.  Work­ing togeth­er through the new office, we hope to make great advances for both uni­ver­si­ties’ con­nec­tions in India,” says UBC Pres­i­dent Stephen Toope.

Pres­i­dent Nay­lor is in India to deliv­er a keynote address at the Fed­er­a­tion of India Cham­ber of Com­merce & Indus­try’s (FICCI) 7TH Annu­al High­er Edu­ca­tion Sum­mit.

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Uni­ver­si­ty of Toron­to Media Rela­tions
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