University News Last updated 25 February
Birmingham City University (BCU) has launched a new Alumni Chapter in India, strengthening Birmingham’s long-term economic, skills and innovation partnership with the country.
The move reflects BCU’s Strategy 2030 ambition to power prosperity through global collaboration – with the goal of positioning India at the centre of its growth plans across artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and healthcare innovation.
It also forms part of the University’s wider objectiive of connecting students and graduates with global industry networks, mentoring and employment opportunities.
Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of BCU, attended the official launch in New Delhi.
“It was a real privilege to see such a strong turnout of accomplished BCU graduates as we marked the launch of our Alumni Chapter,” said Professor Mba, who is in India as part of a West Midlands Mayoral Mission to the country.
“Our alumni network is not simply a community, it is an active global ecosystem of expertise, opportunity and influence.
“By strengthening our presence in India, we are creating tangible opportunities for our current students and recent graduates to access mentoring, professional networks and employment pathways in a major global economy.
“Our graduates in India are entrepreneurs, clinicians, technologists and business leaders. Through this Chapter, they will play a direct role in supporting the next generation - offering insight, industry connections, internships and career guidance.
“This is about ensuring that a BCU education opens doors not only in the UK, but internationally. By deepening our partnerships in India, we are expanding the global employability prospects of our students while strengthening long-term economic collaboration between our regions.”
India remains a priority international partner for the West Midlands across trade, skills and innovation. By formalising its alumni network, BCU aims to:
- Create structured mentoring pipelines linking students with alumni working across key sectors
- Support graduate employability and international career mobility, including pathways into Indian-based roles and enterprises
- Facilitate internships, placements and industry insight opportunities
- Strengthen industry partnerships aligned to regional growth sectors
- Enable business-to-business connectivity between India and the West Midlands
- Foster long-term academic, research and enterprise collaboration
The new Chapter brings together Indian-based graduates working across finance, technology, healthcare, entrepreneurship and the creative economy.
It will establish structured pathways for mentoring, industry engagement and bilateral business collaboration, providing practical support to students while reinforcing economic and innovation ties between Birmingham and India.
Professor Mba, pictured above with guests at the launch, added: “For Birmingham and India, the opportunity is clear - to move beyond exchange and towards genuine co-creation.
“This Alumni Chapter is about shared innovation, shared enterprise and shared opportunity. Crucially, it ensures that our students benefit directly from the strength and success of our global alumni community.”