UEL strengthens India ties with five-day summit

The University of East London’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Amanda Broderick, opened the University’s five-day India Summit 2024 this week with a packed-out Sustainability Solutions Conference in Chennai, India, a vital step in our commitment to foster sustainable growth and strengthen international partnerships.

In opening the conference, Professor Broderick issued a keynote address to delegates, saying, 

The need for decarbonisation and sustainable practices is beyond debate – a new report from the UN last month warned that global annual greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high, and urgent action must be taken to prevent catastrophic spikes in temperature and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

In the face of one of the most pressing global challenges of our time, it is no longer enough for universities to simply engage with the issue intellectually. We must also act. And we must lead by example, not only in our teaching and research, but in the very way we operate as an institution.

We hold a unique position of influence. We educate the leaders, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow. We shape minds that will one day govern, create, design, and influence policy and technology.

That is why sustainability is woven into every facet of our work, both inside and outside the classroom. And we proudly support our students and staff to become leaders and agents of change.

Read more about the UN climate report.

The conference kicks off the latest in a series of annual UEL India Summits, building on visits in 2023 and in early 2024 to expand UEL’s global campus and strengthen ties with partners and students in India.

Hyderabad

The main summit destination, Hyderabad, will see a wealth of UEL events, including networking with Indian student offer-holders, agent representatives, distinguished alumni, and the bringing together of leading academics, researchers, and industry CEOs to discuss technology, healthcare and the growing workforce needs of the Indian economy.

The University will launch its Year of Health 2025 in India at an exclusive HealthTech Roundtable, marking a significant milestone in UEL’s mission to advance health innovation globally, bringing together leading minds from healthcare, academia, and industry to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of health technology.

The roundtable, led by Professor Broderick, and UEL Dean of Health, Sport, and Bioscience, Robert Waterson, will focus on building a healthcare workforce equipped for Industry 5.0. Central to this vision is UEL’s commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), designed to equip healthcare professionals with essential skills in data-driven decision-making, AI applications in health, and telemedicine.

Professor Broderick will then host an event for Indian alums that celebrates career success and lifelong connections, bringing together influential figures from the local academic and professional communities, along with esteemed members of our UEL alumni network in India.

Our alumni are instrumental in advancing UEL’s global network and serve as ambassadors for the University. With more than 85,000 members worldwide, our alumni network embodies a strong community of shared knowledge, support, and professional growth.

At this event’s celebratory awards ceremony, UEL will also recognise the invaluable contributions of our agent partners, whose dedication has been vital in connecting students with transformative learning opportunities at UEL.

Commenting on UEL's strong ties to India, Professor Broderick, added, “1 in 22 Indian students in the UK is studying with the University of East London. That’s because we help international students succeed, with 94 per cent reporting they belong at UEL, and we work with over 2,500 active employer partners and have over 160 nationalities represented in our student community.

“For UEL, diversity and inclusion are not just ambitions, but a tangible reality – and something we value greatly. Our international students add to the vitality and culture on campus and in the classroom, and are ambassadors of our University, enriching the academic environment with diverse perspectives, knowledge, and cultural experiences, inspiring future generations of global scholars and pioneers in social justice.”

New India Industry Advisory Board

A pivotal summit highlight will be the inauguration of the new UEL India Industry Advisory Board, marking a bold step toward bridging academia and industry.

This first-of-its-kind Advisory Board, under the vision of Professor Broderick, reflects UEL’s long-term strategy, Vision 2028, to establish itself as the UK’s leading careers-focused university, ensuring Indian students receive education aligned with contemporary market needs. This Board includes an impressive array of leaders from sectors such as finance, technology, and manufacturing, providing strategic direction to UEL’s initiatives in India.

We round off our time in Hyderabad by bringing together senior HR professionals and industry leaders for a panel discussion on how the University’s expertise in AI-driven healthcare, digital health technologies, and public health can support India’s healthcare workforce transformation.

The conversation will centre on the increasing demand for skilled healthcare professionals, capable of integrating advanced technologies into patient care, as India’s healthcare industry grows and adapts to a rapidly digitalised environment.

A Royal Palace banquet

The summit will conclude in Vadodara, Gujerat with the Women in Leadership Awards, co-hosted by Her Majesty the Queen of Baroda Maharani Radhikaraje Gaewad (an honorary alum of UEL), The Times of India, and UEL to celebrate the contributions of exceptional women across sectors, fostering inspiration and recognition for women’s leadership.

Known for her work in education and community development, the Queen’s vision aligns closely with UEL’s mission to foster social mobility and global opportunities.