Interview On The Acquisition Of Degree Awarding Powers In The UK By SP Jain London School of Management

GetMyUni recently had the opportunity to interview Mr. Nitish Jain, Founder & President of the SP Jain Group on the acquisition of Degree Awarding Powers in the UK by SP Jain London School of Management. The team interviewed him on the impact of such an acquisition and the standing of SP Jain London School of Management in international education. Here is how the interview went:

Ques: Could you provide information about the recent announcement concerning the acquisition of New Degree Awarding Powers by SP Jain London School of Management from the Office for Students (OfS)? What does this accomplishment signify for the institution?

Ans: This means that SP Jain London can award its own degrees without a local partner university. We are the only Indian-origin institute ever to get these rights. 

We have the autonomy to establish a curriculum that is significantly more practical, relevant to industry needs, and aligned with modern practices. Moreover, we enjoy the freedom to appoint our own faculty and provide our students with engaging learning experiences at our campus, conveniently situated in the heart of London's bustling business and financial district. Lastly, upon completing the program, students graduate with a UK degree from SP Jain London School of Management.

Ques: What advantage does SP Jain have over other B-schools in London (and the UK). Why would a student choose SP Jain over the other top global schools in London?

Ans: Our philosophy is simple – as the business has gone global, business schools too should go global. In addition to the advantage of studying in London, one of the world's greatest cities, SPJ London provides students with the opportunity to travel to other leading cities such as Dubai, Singapore, Sydney, and Mumbai, where the campuses of our partner, SP Jain Global, are located. 

These campuses offer a range of choices, catering to the diverse needs and preferences of students. For example, students can choose to join SP Jain in Singapore or Mumbai and then spend a year in London before returning to Sydney to complete the program and receive a degree awarded by SP Jain School of Global Management. Alternatively, students can start at a different campus and transfer to the UK, gaining a UK qualification. Additionally, students who prefer to directly join the UK program can do so. By living, studying, and working in these top cities even before graduation, students become more attractive to employers who value global experiences and decision-making in a global context.

These unparalleled opportunities for networking, internships, and real-world experiences make SP Jain a strong contender in the UK education landscape.

Ques: Please elaborate on the exchange and articulation agreement with the SP Jain School of Global Management 

Ans: The articulation agreement between SP Jain School of Global Management and SP Jain London will bring tremendous benefits, particularly in terms of providing students with the opportunity to study in the UK. 

It’s truly the best of both worlds. Indian students can continue to experience the vibrant cities of Mumbai, Singapore, Dubai, or Sydney, while also having the option to study in London. Alternatively, they can choose to exclusively transfer to the UK and obtain a UK qualification. The same opportunity extends to UK students as well. Let me add that it is very uncommon for a UK university to provide such opportunities to study in locations like Sydney, Singapore, Dubai, or Mumbai.

The ability for both sides to collaborate and offer these exchange or articulation programs is truly exceptional. I am not aware of any other institute that offers such a wide range of choices to students. 

Ques: How this will impact the higher education and foreign education scenario in India? 

Ans: I believe this will have a very strong impact because everyone in the UK looks at us as an Indian institution and they believe that the time has come for Indian institutions to be known for the high-quality research and talent that our education system produces. That means our students would get top jobs, even in the UK, effectively competing with the country's finest academic institutions.

This is a very favorable position for us and in alignment with the government’s agenda of putting India on the world map. The UK has a Prime Minister of Indian origin; many of the world’s leading companies have leaders who are Indians or of Indian origin. We're really at the top of the league, and we're world-class. 

But it's our goal to really get very high-end graduate outcomes. Our students are definitely smarter than what you would normally find in the UK. Of course, the UK has a number of top universities that attract very clever and talented students. However, it is worth noting that most of these institutions comprise 80% international students and only 20% British students. Given the UK's global outlook and its endeavor to attract talent from diverse backgrounds, SP Jain's contribution to the talent pool of Indians in the UK is evident.