Belapur: In a further push to Maharashtra’s ambitious plan to set up Edu City in Navi Mumbai, the state government will formally issue Letters of Intent (LOIs) to five renowned foreign universities on June 14.

The universities set to receive LOIs include University of Aberdeen, University of York, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), Milan.

The state government has chalked out an ambitious project – the ‘Mumbai Rising – Creating an International Education City’ project – to transform Maharashtra into a global education hub. The five international universities will be the first to establish campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai under this ambitious plan.

The LOI granting ceremony will be attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Maharashtra’s top leadership will also be present, including chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and higher & technical education minister Chandrakant Patil.

The International EduCity, being developed by CIDCO, will be located within a 5-kilometre radius of the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. This will be India’s first dedicated education zone hosting foreign university campuses.

The project is designed to provide Indian students with access to world-class education without going abroad, foster multicultural exchange, and boost academic collaboration at an international level.

The Maharashtra government plans to host top 10 global universities in this EduCity. The initiative is expected to be a major driver in Maharashtra’s goal of becoming a USD 1 trillion economy, contributing significantly to India’s ambition of achieving a USD 5 trillion economy by 2029.

The EduCity will not only elevate the academic landscape but also promote innovation, research, and global partnerships, transforming Navi Mumbai into a premier international education destination, officials added.