The Chartered ABS launches the inaugural India-UK Business School Dialogue

The inaugural India-UK Business School Dialogue, taking place in September 2025 in New Delhi will bring together business schools from the UK and India to collaborate and develop new strategic transnational education (TNE) partnerships to support the growing and changing landscape in higher education in both countries. 

The Dialogue will be delivered through a two-day conference, co-chaired by Professor Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode and Chair of the Indian Advisory Group, and Professor Pawan Budhwar, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor International, Aston University and Chair of the UK Advisory Group. The Dialogue will provide a forum for the exchange of insights and offer networking opportunities for business schools, business and management associations, government, and higher education authorities seeking to deepen collaboration and partnerships.  

With support from the British Council, the Dialogue will be delivered in partnership with the All India Management Association (AIMA), Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA), and India Business Group (IBG). 

UK higher education institutions are global leaders in TNE provision, with Asia being the largest host region for UK TNE, accounting for over half of all TNE students globally. At the same time, the last five years have seen a remarkable transformation in India’s higher education sector with an expansion to 1,200 universities, 50,000 colleges, 23 Institutes of Technology (IITs) and 21 Indian Institutes of Managements (IIMs). 

Both countries have placed internationalisation at the heart of their education agendas, as reflected in the UK Government’s International Education Strategy and the Indian Government’s New Education Policy. 

The strong bilateral relationship between India and the UK, reinforced by the recent Free Trade Agreement, presents significant opportunities to expand transnational education initiatives between the two countries. The Dialogue will facilitate the development of reciprocal relationships between business schools in both countries whilst enabling long-term, sustainable, and equal partnerships.  

The India-UK Business School Dialogue takes place in New Delhi on 16-17 September 2025. 

Professor Stewart Robinson, Chair, Chartered Association of Business Schools and Dean, Newcastle University Business School, said:  

“The India-UK Business School Dialogue presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen ties between UK and Indian business schools and to advance meaningful transnational education partnerships. The UK and India share a long-standing relationship in higher education, and this dialogue will build on that foundation to deepen collaboration between the two countries.” 

Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council said:  

“The India-UK Business School Dialogue will serve as an excellent platform for business schools in India and the UK, along with other stakeholders from the higher education sector, to spark new conversations, connections, and collaborations. With a particular focus on business studies — one of the most widely pursued disciplines worldwide — this initiative underscores the importance of internationalisation and transnational education, as articulated in India's National Education Policy 2020.  Students with local and global skills and networks will be future-ready in a world that is increasingly interconnected, so we hope this Dialogue will lead to more opportunities for both Indian and British students.” 

Dr. Ashok Joshi, Chairman, AMDISA Local Management Committee, Past President, AMDISA and Director General, IndSearch, Institute of Management Studies and Research said: 

“The India-UK Business School Dialogue is a distinctive initiative focused on transnational education, the exchange of best practices, and collaborative research in higher education. This dialogue aims to cultivate reciprocal relationships between business schools in both countries, offering strong momentum to the internationalisation of higher education. It serves as a strategic platform to deepen academic collaboration, enhance global competencies, and drive innovation in business education.” 

Amarjit Singh, Founder and CEO, India Business Group, a leading strategic advisory consultancy working in the UK-India corridor, said:  

“The India Business Group is delighted to partner with Chartered ABS in hosting this inaugural bilateral dialogue at a pivotal moment for UK-India relations. With India's business school landscape being diverse, vibrant and constantly evolving, and both nations having recently finalised a landmark Free Trade Agreement, we look forward to offering institutions our strategic guidance, practical frameworks, and network of connections to unlock new avenues for business opportunities and collaborations.” 

Rekha Sethi, Director General, All India Management Association (AIMA) said:  

“AIMA is proud to partner with Chartered ABS on this inaugural dialogue. As the voice of the India’s leaders and managers, AIMA has consistently advanced the cause of management education and excellence through close collaboration with industry, academia, government, and students. This dialogue represents a significant opportunity to deepen academic engagement, foster joint research, and exchange global best practices between two dynamic higher education ecosystems. At a time when India’s New Education Policy is driving an ambitious internationalisation agenda, this initiative offers a timely and strategic platform to build enduring, future-ready partnerships that benefit students, institutions, and the broader economy in both countries.” 

For further information please visit, India-UK Business School Dialogue, or email Flora Hamilton, CEO, Chartered ABS, [email protected] or Hina Dean, Executive Manager, Chartered ABS [email protected]