UEL signs deal to bring sporting excellence to Delhi

Published

17 June 2022

The University of East London (UEL) has signed an agreement to work with the Delhi Sports University (DSU) to help bring Olympic glory to India.

The University will work with its new partner to design a sporting programme and provide academic support to create advanced world-class training for athletes in India's capital territory.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, pictured right, said, "Today we have signed an MoU [memorandum of understanding] with the University of East London for providing world-class sports training. This will prove to be an historic agreement for the entire country. Delhi Sports University will produce many medal-winning Olympians."

He was speaking after the two universities signed a deal that sets out how the partnership will work, furthering the reach of the University of East London's ambitious Global Sport Strategy, which seeks to connect practice at the University with learners, stakeholders and partners in local, regional, national and international contexts.

Among the aims, the two institutions will co-design and develop a degree programme, co-create opportunities for research and offer exchange programmes and other global experiences for students.

Speaking in Delhi, Dr Paul Marshall, pictured, the University's pro-vice chancellor for careers and enterprise, said, "We are absolutely delighted to be entering into this agreement with the Delhi Sports University and to welcome them to our ever-expanding family of global partners.

"The University, with its strong Olympic and Paralympic heritage, is the most ambitious and the most improved University in the UK for sport. As part of our Vision 2028 transformation strategy we see sport as an essential pre-condition for learning gain, and we encourage activity at all levels, from our elite programmes to our club activities and beyond, ensuring fitness is open to all.

"Our appetite for sporting endeavour reaches around the world and now encompasses DSU, creating a partnership that is particularly special for us because of our deep and important links to India that this agreement can only serve to strengthen.

"And so, as we reflect on the legacy of the London Olympics ten years ago, we look forward to working with DSU to build an innovative and impactful partnership that will support athletes to reach their potential and help to realise the benefits of sports for the communities that our institutions serve."

The agreement has also been facilitated and supported by the British Council, the UK Department for Education and the Department for International Trade.

Delhi Sports University is a new State University which will act as a centre for excellence in sport regionally, and potentially nationally.

DSU's first vice chancellor is former athlete Karnam Malleswari, pictured with Dr Marshall. She won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the women's 55kg weightlifting competition becoming the first Indian woman to claim a podium place.

A statement from DSU said, "At this stage of inception, our partnership with UEL holds the importance of being the first international tie-up for mutual co-creation and innovation. As DSU establishes itself in the world of sports, we aim to rise up to global standards in terms of sports performance, training and research and we are happy to receive UEL's guidance.

"We look forward to working together towards advancement in the field of sports and provide our sportspersons with an environment of excellence to support their journeys."

Find out more about the East London Global Sport Strategy.