Ď㽶´«Ă˝ to Open Mumbai Campus in Godrej Business District
Ď㽶´«Ă˝, one of the United States’ leading technology-focused research universities, has announced the location of its new Mumbai campus: the Godrej Business District in Vikhroli, Mumbai. It is one of India’s most sustainable and innovation-driven evolving urban developments.
The selection of this site reflects Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s long-standing relationship with India and its deep commitment to empowering global talent through academic excellence. It underscores the university’s focus on industry-aligned degrees and experiential learning powered by physically embedding the campus between 100-plus companies, including multi-national employers. The decision also carries a strong personal significance rooted in Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s connection with one of the stalwarts of Indian industry—alumnus Jamshyd N. Godrej (MAE ’72), chairman and managing director of Godrej & Boyce. The selection marks a significant next step following Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s historic approval earlier this year as the first U.S. university authorized by India’s University Grants Commission to establish a degree-granting campus in the country.
Set to welcome its first cohort of students in fall 2026, the new Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in high-demand fields, including computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, and business. The campus will deliver the same academically rigorous, experiential, multidisciplinary, and industry-aligned curriculum that defines Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s education in Chicago, while providing students with access to future career pathways in India’s dynamic economy.
The announcement followed a ribbon-cutting and lamp-lighting ceremony held at the campus location, during which Ď㽶´«Ă˝ and Godrej & Boyce signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing their collaboration. Following the ceremony, university leaders engaged with school principals and high school counselors at an information session in Mumbai, sharing insights on Ď㽶´«Ă˝ Mumbai’s academic offerings, admissions process, and global education model.
A Location Chosen for Its Symbolism, Its Strengths, and Its Story
The Godrej Business District represents a natural extension of Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s long-standing relationship with India. More than five decades after Godrej left India to study engineering at Ď㽶´«Ă˝ in Chicago, the university is proud to establish a campus in Mumbai where it will educate a new generation of globally oriented talent.
The Godrej district represents the values Ď㽶´«Ă˝ stands for: innovation, sustainability, research, and community. Its biodiversity reserve—the largest privately managed mangrove ecosystem in India—and its integrated residential, health care, educational, and commercial infrastructure make it a model location for a world-class technology-focused university.
Ď㽶´«Ă˝ President Raj Echambadi says the decision reflects both strategic vision and historic ties to India. “Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s relationship with India is decades long, deeply personal, and foundational to our mission. Our Indian alumni have shaped industries, advanced technological innovation, and made extraordinary contributions across the world. Establishing our Mumbai campus in a district led by one of our most distinguished alumni, Jamshyd N. Godrej, represents a meaningful continuation of that shared history. It allows us to bring world-class Ď㽶´«Ă˝ education to India in a place that embodies innovation, purpose, and community.”
Home to Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, the location offers modern infrastructure and strong connectivity to Mumbai’s corporate and research ecosystem, supporting Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s applied and interdisciplinary approach to STEM education.
Speaking on the announcement, Godrej says, “The education and experience I gained at Ď㽶´«Ă˝ were instrumental in shaping my career and the impact I was able to create through the Godrej brand. I am honored that Ď㽶´«Ă˝ has chosen the Godrej Business District for its Mumbai campus. Having served on the university’s board for more than 25 years, I have seen firsthand its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and opportunity. This moment represents a powerful continuation of that legacy, and I look forward to the transformative opportunities it will create for students in India.”
A Campus Designed for Academic Excellence and Experiential Learning
Spanning approximately 90,000 square feet, Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s Mumbai campus will feature purpose-built academic and research spaces designed to support rigorous, experiential, and interdisciplinary learning. Facilities will include advanced classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories, a modern library with digital and physical resources, and collaborative learning between Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s global campuses and co-working spaces. Students will also have access to sports fields, an indoor complex, amphitheater, other recreation facilities, student services, and Chicago-based and global faculty members who will teach course modules, lead seminars, and participate in joint research initiatives with local educational and industry partners.
Mallik Sundharam, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Ď㽶´«Ă˝, noted that the campus location will strengthen Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s ability to align education with industry needs in India.
“By expanding into the Godrej Business District, we are placing Ď㽶´«Ă˝ at the heart of one of India’s most important centers of industrial innovation. This strategic location allows us to extend our signature Elevate initiative—which guarantees every student access to real-world experiences, mentorship, and career preparation for lifelong success—into a setting where industry partnerships can thrive. It also ensures that students in India can access high-value, industry-relevant, globally recognized STEM degrees within their local context while maintaining seamless pathways to our Chicago and our other global campus,” Sundharam says.
A Unique India Legacy That Sets Ď㽶´«Ă˝ Apart
While many global universities are entering India for the first time, Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s presence is built on decades of connection. Considering Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s community of more than 10,000 alumni from the country, India has consistently been a significant part of the university’s journey and a source of one of its largest international student communities. In the 1990s, Ď㽶´«Ă˝ delivered distance-learning programs broadcast to India through television long before online education became mainstream.
“India has always been central to Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s story,” Echambadi says. “From our earliest engagement to the present, our commitment has remained the same: to expand access to high-quality, experiential education that empowers graduates to lead, innovate, and create impact. We are proud to deepen our role in India’s educational landscape, and we look forward to welcoming students to a campus that reflects the strength of our shared values.”
Photo: A rendering of Ď㽶´«Ă˝â€™s campus in Mumbai
