Our Sponsors
West Midlands Mayoral Mission to India
Aston University
Birmingham City University
E.ON
GEDU
University of Birmingham
University of Warwick
Aston University
Aston University has a long-term commitment to education, skills, and research partnerships with India, spanning UK study pathways, high-quality transnational education in India, and collaboration with partner universities and research institutes.
Aston has developed a strong reputation for working closely with industry, the professions, and universities across the world, with a strong focus on providing solutions to global problems and addressing societal challenges.
Through initiatives such as the Aston India Centre, and specialist research institutes such as the Energy and Bioproducts Research (EBRI), The Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute, the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT) and research into enterprise AI, Aston is well positioned to collaborate with Indian industry, researchers, and policymakers on shared global challenges. With a commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship that drive positive socioeconomic impact in business and community, Aston University defines itself as inclusive, entrepreneurial and transformational.
As a central partner in the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, Aston University is also helping attract significant international investment into Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
This mission is a timely opportunity to showcase Birmingham as a global innovation city and to deepen collaboration with Indian industry, researchers, and policymakers on shared global challenges. It comes as the University marks its 60th anniversary which it is marking with a year-long celebration which will highlight how the University, which is rooted in Birmingham, has international, national and local impact.
Birmingham City University
From art, accounting and architecture to midwifery, media and mechanical engineering, Birmingham City University (BCU) empowers students with a diverse range of contemporary, flexible courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. With roots reaching back to 1843, BCU has evolved into one of the UK’s most dynamic urban universities, combining rich heritage with forward-looking ambition.
BCU is home to internationally recognised specialist schools, including the award-winning School of Jewellery, one of the largest jewellery education centres in the world, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, a globally respected performance and music institution with state-of-the-art facilities that support over 300 public events annually. The University’s creative and professional strengths are reflected in strong UK subject rankings for film production, animation, architecture and media, underpinning its reputation for industry-relevant teaching.
A central part of BCU’s innovation ecosystem is STEAMhouse, a £70+ million interdisciplinary innovation hub that fosters collaboration between students, academics and businesses across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Across its multiple campus sites in Birmingham, BCU has invested over £400 million in cutting-edge facilities, from simulated hospital wards to TV and radio studios. With more than 31,000 students from around 100 countries, BCU’s vibrant and inclusive community reflects the diversity of the city itself. Its ‘Rooted in Birmingham, Reaching Beyond’ strategy guides a strong commitment to regional regeneration, global engagement and student success, preparing graduates for impactful careers and contributing to the social and economic life of the West Midlands and beyond.
E.ON
E.ON’s goal is to ensure the energy transition works for everyone. Through E.ON Next, E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions and npower Business Solutions, our mission is to help make energy more affordable and sustainable across homes, businesses, cities and communities.
Globally, E.ON is a major provider of energy solutions and clean energy networks with around 47 million customers across 17 countries. In the UK, we serve nearly one in seven households and businesses, and we are the UK’s largest supplier of electricity to industrial clients.
GEDU
Global Education (GEDU) is changing lives through education and making a fundamental difference to living standards and access to learning globally.
We have over 75,000 students at 14 institutions 16 countries, including India, the USA, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Malta, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Ireland and Canada.
The GEDU network provides high quality education spanning K12 schools to Master’s to PhDs, plus apprenticeships and language schools. Its institutions include Schiller International University, ICN Business School, MLA College, the Australian Performing Arts Conservatory (APAC), École de Management Appliqué (EMA), the Global Banking School, GBS Dubai, and GBS Malta, as well as GlobalU, English Path, MetaGedu Apprenticeships, and Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools.
GEDU has a partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and operates the UN body’s CIFAL Training Centre in London.
Each institution has a keen focus on both student experience and graduate employment to maximise return on investment for students.
In India, GEDU has a campus in GIFT City, Gujarat and its Global Knowledge Hub in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. In August 2026, in partnership with the UK’s top rated school Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, GEDU will open Queen Elizabeth’s School, Gurugram in Haryana.
As part of Sir Kier Starmer’s delegation to India in October 2025, GEDU CEO Dr Vishwajeet Rana, announced a £200 million investment plan that would make GEDU the largest foreign investor in India’s education sector.
In the UK, GEDU has established a strong presence in the West Midlands, particularly in Birmingham, which hosts MetaGedu Apprenticeships HQ and around 8,000 students at two Global Banking School (GBS) campuses. Mayor Richard Parker officially opened the new GBS campus at Brindley Place in May 2025.
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham, established in 1900 as England’s first civic ‘redbrick’ university, is a prestigious Russell Group institution located in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Ranked among the world’s top 100 universities (76th QS 2026), it supports over 40,000 students with a focus on research-intensive teaching, boasting 10 Nobel Laureates. The campus is renowned for its green, spacious environment and includes a campus in Dubai alongside TNE partnerships in China, India and Singapore. The University is comprehensive with a staff base of over 8,000 spanning Medical, Health and Life Sciences, STEM, and Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Birmingham has a long and proud history of welcoming students from across the globe and is currently home to some 1,200 Indian students. It has longstanding and deep partnerships in India including a flagship partnership with IIT Madras. Our research collaborations with government, businesses and leading institutions across India are providing answers to the global challenges of our age. From addressing the challenges of urbanisation and developing cold chains, improving the detection of cancer in women and identifying the source of air pollution, our research collaborations are breaking new ground.
