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Edify Online
  1. Jointly, AIU and EdifyOnline formalize ‘Internationalizing of Higher Education (IHE) Advisory Board” –  https://www.edifyonline.com/ihe-advisory
  2. Jointly, AIU and EdifyOnline conduct ‘AIU Internationalizing Higher Education Webinars’ – https://www.edifyonline.com/webinar
  3. Indian NEP 2020 Policy driven by Catalysts – https://www.edifyonline.com/india-nep
  4. Association of Indian Universities (AIU), India, Signs MoU with Edify Online, USA, May 23, 2023.
  5. IHE Report was unveiled, by Secretary General, Dr. Mittal, Vik Agarwal, and others, on February 2025.
  6. Vik’s video at Amity at the 99th annual AIU general meet and conference of VCs, on June 23, 2025 – plan to launch university clusters initiative with ‘Shared HEIs Ecosystem’ framework. 

University Cluster Initiative (UCI) – It isa collaborative effort between the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), India, and Edify Online Corp (EdifyOnline), USA. This initiative marks a strategic step toward advancing the internationalization of higher education in India.  Originally conceptualized as the University Cluster Pilot Study (UCPS), UCI seeks to create shared ecosystems that foster global academic partnerships, expand access to international learning opportunities, and strengthen institutional capacities across Indian universities.

The vision for UCI emerged during a Vision Workshop held on June 16–17, 2022, at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington D.C., USA, hosted by Executive President of MIT WPU, Dr. Rahul Karad.  During discussions with Dr. Pankaj (Mrs.) Mittal, Secretary General of AIU, Mr. Anil P. Agarwal, founder of Edify Online Corp, highlighted that EdifyOnline had been collaborating with MIT WPU since July 1, 2021. While the Zoom-based online initiative demonstrated the feasibility of remote international instruction, it also revealed a critical need for advanced LMS infrastructure to enable scalable and sustainable internationalization of higher education (IHE).  This insight shaped the strategic decision to invest in a centralized LMS, forming the foundation for future partnerships under the University Cluster Initiative (UCI).

Pre-Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – Following the initial meeting in Washington, D.C., the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)and EdifyOnline engaged in extensive communication with AIU’s member universities revealing a strong need for a holistic solution—one that isaffordable, scalable, and capable of connecting universities with international faculty and institutions.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – In May 2023, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Edify Online Corp (EdifyOnline) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking a major milestone in advancing global academic collaboration.

Strategic Alignment – In November 2023, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)and Edify Online Corp (EdifyOnline)formalized an agreement to developresearch-based guidelines for real-time implementation. The focus was on advancinginternational teaching pedagogy, academic standards, and global awareness at an affordable cost, laying the foundation for theUniversity Cluster Pilot Study (UCPS).

Preparedness Study – In February 2025, a joint research team completed a landmark report titled “A Study on Preparedness of Indian Higher Education Institutions.” The study evaluated the readiness of Indian universities for internationalization and analyzed the survey responses from 210 Indian HEIs across six regions, representing diverse institutional categories.  The report’s key recommendations included:

  • Policy Prioritization: Regulatory bodies such as the UGC should enable credit transfer across learning platforms to facilitate internationalization.
  • Integration with Academic Bank of Credits: Courses offered through initiatives like EdifyOnline should be incorporated into the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) framework.
  • Government Support: Encourage initiatives like the University Cluster Pilot Study (UCPS) to promote collaborative frameworks and resource sharing.
  • Capacity Building: Invest in teacher training, institutional capacity development, and financial incentives to ensure affordable access to global faculty and international learning opportunities.

Completion of UCI Phase I – In October 2025, Phase I of the University Cluster Initiative (UCI) was successfully completed, achieving three core objectives:

  1. Promoting academic linkages across institutions.
  2. Enabling cross-border learning opportunities for students and faculty.
  3. Strengthening institutional capacities for global engagement.

This report captures the strategic activities, progress, and key developments achieved over the past two years, laying a strong foundation for Phase II, which will operationalize the UCI framework at scale.

Launch of UCI Phase II – December 2025 marks a pivotal transition for the University Cluster Initiative (UCI) as it transitions from Phase I — planning and exploration – to Phase II – full-scale implementation. This phase is dedicated to operationalizing the UCI framework, ensuring sustainable and scalable internationalization of higher education across participating institutions.