India :Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has revealed that Prof. M. Satish Kumar will be the inaugural Dean of its upcoming campus in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India. Prof. Kumar is set to take on this role in July 2025, where he will be located in GIFT City, offering academic leadership across various faculties for the new campus. This campus is anticipated to welcome its first batch of students in early 2026.
Before this appointment, Professor Kumar spent more than 25 years at the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). He also served as the Director of Queen’s Academy India and of Internationalisation, where he played a crucial role in strengthening the University’s global presence in South Asia.
In addition to his role at Queen’s, Prof. Kumar has also held several Visiting Professorships at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; and the University of Calcutta, Kolkata.
Prof. Kumar comments on his appointment: “I’m honoured to take on this pivotal role as we establish Queen’s University’s new international branch campus at GIFT City. This landmark development represents a significant step in our global engagement strategy—enabling us to extend Queen’s world-class education to new regions while forging deep, long-term partnerships with industry and academic stakeholders in India. Together, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the evolving transnational education and economic landscape of the region.”
Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor QUB, says: “I’m delighted to welcome Prof. Satish Kumar to lead Queen’s new campus in India. His leadership will strengthen our academic partnerships and foster collaboration with industry and government to deliver an enriching student experience. This marks a major milestone as we become the first UK Russell Group University in GIFT City. I look forward to working with him as we move towards our opening next year and unlock new opportunities for students, staff, and the wider community.”
Professor Margaret Topping, Pro-Vice Chancellor Global Engagement QUB, said: “We are delighted to appoint Satish as our first Dean of GIFT City. This is a critical role which will set firm foundations for our staff, students, and partners in the country. Satish brings with him a wealth of experience in developing intersectoral partnerships and a thriving collaborative learning environment.”