“Italy sees significant opportunities in such initiatives but we are currently [looking] at legal aspects to work out a little more recognition,” Ledda told The PIE News, when asked about the possibility of Italian universities having an institutional presence in India.
Though Istituto Marangoni has an active campus in Mumbai and is considering a Delhi expansion, and Domus Academy is exploring similar initiatives in India, there is a broader push for diverse institutions to cater to Indian students.
“There is a strong and growing interest from Indian students to study at an Italian institution here in India as not everyone can study abroad due to costs,” Ledda added.
With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sharing close relations, there has also been a significant focus on strengthening cooperation in different sectors.
In a meeting last year after the G20 summit, the leaders of both countries agreed to strengthen collaboration on critical technologies with key areas being artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and digitalisation of services.
India and Italy have collaborated on more than 130 research projects across various fields
Sergio Ledda, Italian Embassy in India
A major outcome of the discussions was the launch of the Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Program, which aims to foster partnerships between academic institutions, start-ups, and industries in both nations.
Moreover, both countries will soon implement the executive program for scientific and technological cooperation for 2025-2027, which would support joint research projects and encourage mobility programs for researchers.
“India and Italy have collaborated on more than 130 research projects across various fields,” stated Ledda.
“We are facilitating research exchange programs that cover expenses for researchers traveling between India and Italy for periods ranging from one week to one month.”
According to Ledda, areas such as energy, green hydrogen, emerging quantum computing, and space exploration are also on the radar for India and Italy’s research partnerships.
Major Indian and Italian universities have already initiated MOUs focused on student and faculty exchanges, professional training, research collaborations, and the sharing of academic resources.
While Chandigarh University has signed an MOU with several Italian universities, including the University of Florence, D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Università della Calabria, and Pegaso Università Telematica, Italian institutions like Sapienza University have active collaborations with over 20 Indian universities and research institutions.
Moreover, Indian Institutes of Technology, including IIT Madras and IIT Hyderabad work with Italian universities in fields such as sustainable energy research and neuroscience, respectively.
Italy and India’s standing as ancient civilizations with a rich heritage have also led to cultural collaborations between the two countries, according to Ledda.
“Our focus extends beyond engineering, energy, and agriculture – we are also working on cultural initiatives, including monument preservation, architecture, and historical traditions, where Italy plays a leading role,” he said.
“Italy and India share a strong commitment to maintaining cultural exchange and collaboration.”
The growing educational partnerships and increasing interest in transnational education between the two countries doesn’t mean Italy is losing its position as an emerging study destination among Indian students.
As per reports, over 12,000 Indian students are currently studying in Italy compared to just 250 some 10 years ago.
While many students go for economics, management, and art and design programs, architecture and natural sciences are growing in popularity.
According to Ledda, there are four major factors driving the outbound student mobility from Italy to India.
“The main reasons Indian students choose Italy include university rankings, evolving curriculum aligned with modern industry needs, hands-on practical experience through strong industry connections, and lower tuition fees and living costs compared to other destinations,” he said.
The Italian Mission in India also recently hosted its first-ever “Spring day” at its center in New Delhi.
Organised by Uni-Italia India in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in India and the Italian Embassy Cultural Center, it brought together ten leading Italian universities and design institutes.
The event provided a platform for interactions between Indian students and academic counterparts, with participants gaining insights into academic collaborations, courses, scholarships, admission procedures, and career prospects across fields such as science, arts, design, business, and fashion.
“This is the very first Spring edition of the Study in Italy fair at the Embassy of Italy. The growing focus on Italy as the study destination in the Indian landscape compelled us to bring the Italian academia in the springtime, and it certainly proved to be a success, it seems,” said Arkaprabha Biswas, coordinator, Uni-Italia India offices.
“In the upcoming years, we would certainly like to continue this tradition in other cities as well.”
