University of Leicester extends leadership role in health and education in India

The University of Leicester has built upon its leadership role in India by co-hosting the first-ever UK-India higher education summit for parents of students coming to study in the UK – and a pioneering health conference with strategic partner The Apollo Hospitals Group.

The inaugural Apollo-Leicester Education Summit, held in Hyderabad on Saturday 31 January, was a complete sell out, attracting more than 250 students and parents.

Speakers from across the sector came together to inform parents and their children about the education and career opportunities open to students in the UK – including Leicester-Apollo programmes and scholarships. The day saw industry and education experts from Apollo and Leicester explain how global careers are evolving, what skills will matter in the age of AI and how the right academic environment is crucial for success.

The University also co-hosted a two-day health conference with Apollo, which was held in Hyderabad on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 January. It was Asia’s largest health tech conference and saw healthcare and research experts from world leaders across the globe, including Leicester and Apollo, address issues around patient safety.

Both events featured keynote speeches from delegates from the University of Leicester, including Professor Henrietta O’Connor, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Sir Nilesh Samani, Professor of Cardiology.

Professor O’Connor said: “It was an honour to be part of the inaugural UK-India higher education summit for parents. Our partnership with Apollo expands far beyond the boundaries of a traditional higher education.

“The partnership addresses critical skills gaps in the UK health sector and – through use of AI, big data sets and precision medicine – will catalyse new innovations and treatments that will be replicable across the UK’s ethnically diverse population to improve patient outcomes. And the key beneficiaries of this are Indian students, who are able to enrol on our pathway to a UK degree. A pathway which combines local study in India via The Apollo University with a final year in the UK at the University of Leicester.” 

Reflecting on the health conference, Professor O’Connor added: “This was an excellent opportunity to inform healthcare leaders, researchers and clinicians about the University’s excellent pedigree, particularly in the field of health and medicine.

“At Leicester we work in partnership with others to combine our clinical and academic excellence in order to ensure cutting-edge research translates into healthcare innovations. Our innovative collaborations with Apollo means we can now impact more lives in both India and the UK.”

In his opening address at the education summit, Professor Vinod Bhat, Vice-Chancellor, The Apollo University, said: “Global education today is less about a stamp on a passport and more about a shift in mindset. It is about creating students who are locally rooted but globally competent. Whether they study in India or the UK, the goal is to equip them with the cross-cultural fluency required to solve borderless problems.”

The University of Leicester joined forces with The Apollo Hospitals Group, one the world’s largest integrated healthcare service providers, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023. The partnership was forged to strengthen Leicester’s links with India and to set out a mutual desire to promote international cooperation and explore collaborative education and research programmes, particularly in the fields of healthcare management, healthcare and data science.

The Leicester delegation also hosted a special reception for Leicester alumni and partners based in India, on Saturday, before moving on to Goa on Sunday 1 February for the QS India Summit.

Professor O’Connor spoke at the summit and was joined by the University’s Director of External Relations, Martyn Edwards. The summit brings together policymakers, education leaders and researchers aiming to shape the future of global education. Professor O’Connor spoke about how universities can build globally recognisable brands through distinctive narratives, strategic positioning, and academic vision.