Karnataka to set up joint panel to guide KWIN City project, signs agreements with global universities

Expected to transform the state’s business landscape, the KWIN City project aims to generate an investment of approximately Rs 40,000 crore for a premier education hub designed to accommodate 500,000 residents. Spanning 5,800 acres, it is strategically located 45 minutes from Kempegowda International Airport and 5 km from the Bengaluru-Pune Greenfield Expressway.

Speaking at the gathering, Dr Sudhakar emphasised the importance of maintaining a broad educational approach. “The nature of learning and education cannot be changed based on the demands of one sector. Such a move would limit the scope of education and create new challenges. We need to reshape holistic learning to meet the demands of the contemporary world,” he said.

Stressing the need for world-class education in the country, he assured that the state government would engage with the Centre and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to bring about necessary improvements.

Dr Sudhakar also highlighted that 70 per cent of students in Karnataka’s universities hail from outside the state, making it imperative to enhance facilities and resources. He announced that well-equipped nurturing centres and testing facilities would be set up in KWIN City to support deep-tech startups and research and development (R&D) centres of large corporations.

Meanwhile, Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil revealed that agreements have already been signed with nine universities, including St John’s University and the University of Liverpool, to be part of KWIN City. Prestigious institutions such as the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) in Pilani and the World Horti Centre, known for its expertise in horticulture, have also expressed interest. Discussions with several other global institutions are ongoing.

Patil pointed out that universities from multiple countries have shown keen interest in establishing campuses within KWIN City. With the UGC now permitting the world’s top 500 universities to set up campuses in India, Karnataka sees this as a major opportunity to attract Western institutions at a lower cost. “This initiative will provide students with hands-on experience in research and development, further strengthening Karnataka’s position in higher education,” he said.

Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil outlined Karnataka’s efforts to become a global hub for skill development. The state currently has 70 medical colleges, offering 11,000 undergraduate seats and 6,000 postgraduate seats. “Our aim is to establish Karnataka as a Centre of Excellence in skill development, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and eco-friendly energy,” he said.

The roundtable discussion, attended by education leaders such as Dr Prabhakar Kore of the Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society, Jawahar Doreswamy of PES University, and DP Nagaraj of RV Educational Institution, underscored the significance of industry-led skill programmes even as KWIN City is set to introduce specialised courses in artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, bioengineering, and sustainability.

Representatives from leading institutions and organisations, including St John’s University, University of York, Azim Premji University, Boston University, Bangalore Airport City Limited, Atria University, Alliance University, National Public School, and International School of Management Excellence, participated in the discussions. The event also saw the presence of Vice Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, signalling strong global interest in Karnataka’s educational transformation.