With the objective of expanding opportunities for students and communities in the areas of digital education, skill development, capacity building, entrepreneurship, talent development, international academic opportunities, financial and digital literacy, and green and sustainable development, Lucknow-based S.R. Group of Institutions (SRGI) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Society of Digital Entrepreneurs (SODES), New Delhi, it said on Sunday.

“The MOUs’ broader aim is to make education more closely aligned with the changing requirements of the industry and society. In changing times, the need is to equip students not only with academic knowledge but also with digital skills, entrepreneurial thinking, innovation capabilities and practical exposure. Under this vision, SRGI is focusing on creating an educational environment where students can explore new-age opportunities, develop independent thinking and build capabilities that can help them navigate an increasingly technology-driven world. The partnership with SODES is being viewed as an important step in this direction, as it will provide a structured platform for students to gain exposure to digital training, entrepreneurship, mentorship, capacity-building initiatives and sustainable development programmes,” said Piyush Singh Chauhan, the Vice Chairman of SRGI.

Mr. Chauhan, the Vice Chairman, added that the broad areas of collaboration under the five-year MoU between SRGI and SODES will include Digital education, training and capacity building, Skill development and talent identification, Entrepreneurship and innovation programmes, International academic opportunities, Digital and financial literacy, Green and sustainable development initiatives, Seminars, workshops and knowledge-sharing programmes.

“The collaboration further reflects our growing emphasis on creating opportunities that connect education with real-world skills, innovation and emerging career possibilities. Through such partnerships, aiming to provide its students with greater access to knowledge, mentorship and practical learning beyond the traditional academic framework,” added Mr. Chauhan.

The Vice-Chairman said, “the five-year association is expected to create new avenues for knowledge exchange, digital empowerment, entrepreneurship development, talent nurturing and sustainable innovation, benefiting students, professionals as well as the wider community,”.

Dinesh Tyagi, President of the Society of Digital Entrepreneurs (SODES), said the group will contribute through digital training, mentorship, technical expertise, capacity-building programmes and initiatives focused on entrepreneurship and sustainable development. The event was also graced by SRGI Chairman and MLC Pawan Singh Chauhan.

The University of Liverpool has begun work on its proposed Bengaluru campus with a ground-breaking ceremony held at Alembic City on Monday. 

The campus, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2026, will offer UK-accredited degree programmes in Computer Science, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Biomedical Sciences and Game Design. The Game Design course will be the first such programme offered by a UK university campus in India. Applications for the 2026 academic year have already opened. 

Top 150

The University of Liverpool is ranked among the top 150 universities globally in the QS World University Rankings. It received approval in May 2025 from the Union Ministry of Education to establish a campus in India under the University Grants Commission’s 2023 regulations for foreign higher educational institutions, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 

Integrated facility

The University said the Bengaluru campus has been designed as an integrated teaching and research facility, with smart classrooms, specialised laboratories, research and innovation spaces, collaboration hubs and access to Bloomberg terminals. The aim, according to the institution, is to combine academic learning with industry engagement and interdisciplinary research. 

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by senior leadership from the University of Liverpool, representatives of the UK government, among others. Chandru Iyer, Deputy British High Commissioner to Karnataka and Kerala, who had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University at its launch event in May this year, was among the key attendees. 

Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said Karnataka’s position as a centre for knowledge and technology, along with Alembic City’s focus on education, research and innovation, influenced the choice of location. Mr. Iyer said the new campus would contribute to expanding access to UK higher education for Indian students.  

Adaptive reuse

The campus design is based on adaptive reuse of the former glass factory at Alembic City, with industrial structures being repurposed into academic spaces, Architect Ram Joshi said.