Leeds Metropolitan University has two campuses in Leeds and a third, that isn’t well known to most Leeds-based students, located just over 4500 miles away in Bhopal, India. The joint partnership between Leeds Metropolitan University and JSWS (non-profit organization) offers under-graduate degrees in the fields of business management, retail marketing, international hospitality management and Event Management. The Met Online spoke to Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Paul Smith to learn more about the other campus and recent developments reported by the press.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor outlined the partnership with Jagaran Social Welfare Society, informing The Met Online that the courses delivered in partnership with JSWS in India underwent the rigorous quality and standards checks which are required by the Quality Assurance Agency for all validated programmes from government recognised Higher Education Institutions in the UK. The awards gained are internationally recognised and our partners in India, JSWS, have improved access to higher education in Bhopal. At present there are 180 students enrolled at the Bhopal Campus and the university doesn’t envisage any further developments in the area.

“Together we believe we are offering an affordable opportunity for many Indian students to earn a UK degree taught in-country.” – Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Paul Smith.

Leeds-Metropolitan University is the first higher-education campus established by a foreign university in India and was in the news recently following student protests in the area. The Hindu reported that students from several colleges, protesting about the “capitalist education model” and demanding free education, marched to the gates of the Bhopal Campus. The students shouted slogans of “Leeds-Met, Quit India”, burnt an effigy of the “capitalist education model” and demanded free education from “KG to PG” (Kindergarten to Post Graduation). The article claims that protesters believed the university to be the ground-level manifestation of the pending Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010.

The Met Online asked the Deputy Vice Chancellor for more information on the story and he informed us that it was understood that students were protesting against a series of higher education bills pending in India’s parliament, including the Foreign Universities Bill, that would allow in foreign branch campuses. There weren’t any known incidents at the demonstration and there have been no further developments following the conclusion of the 12-day long protest against the “neoliberalisation” and “marketisation” of higher education in India. While it’s clear that students have taken to the streets in protest, the focus of the demonstration appears to be legislation rather than Leeds Metropolitan University.

For the latest news and information on Leeds Met India please visit the website.

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