?Our entrepreneurial culture is globally recognised and it places us third after Stanford and Cambridge for the level of venture capital it has attracted,? says Adam Wheeler, deputy vice-chancellor, University of Southampton. On a recent visit to India to attend the Pan-IIT Conclave, Wheeler talked to FE?s Vikram Chaudhary as to why University is upbeat about having more students from India and the various exciting opportunities it has in store for Indian students. Excerpts:

What brings you to India? How successful has been your trip?

The University of Southampton was privileged to be invited to attend the Pan-IIT Conclave held at Noida. It has most certainly been a successful visit for me; by interacting with a number of colleagues in higher education, the private sector and the government, I have a much clearer and deeper understanding of the current education environment in India.

Apart from the truly global exposure, what else does the varsity offer, which, may be, is missing in other UK varsities?

We offer our students an entrepreneurial culture in which to flourish, combined with a challenging and rigorous intellectual education. Our entrepreneurial culture was recognised by an independent review, which places the University of Southampton third after Stanford and Cambridge for the level of venture capital it has attracted. Studying in this exciting environment, our students are also offered the opportunity to work towards the University?s Graduate Passport, which is an opportunity to develop skills that can help them excel in today?s competitive job market. As well as the University?s leading engineering and science subjects, there are several academic programmes that are of great interest to students from India; audiology, race car aerodynamics and actuarial sciences are much sought after. Many of our programmes offer unique opportunities; for example, the department of law has set up a couple of initiatives, one which gives our students the opportunity to offer free consultations to any University of Southampton student requiring advice on renting property and another called ?Street Law?, which enables our students to take part in working towards identify legal concerns with community groups.

Also, what steps and innovations you carry out so as to constantly match the British higher educational standards?

We are leading on developments in curriculum innovation that offer our students a range of both interpersonal and business skills. By developing a broad-based curriculum our aim is to encourage the students to become global graduates and future leaders. The University is leading on an international curriculum innovation initiative that will bring together leading educationalists from around the world to share views.

A good number of your students come from abroad. Which region contributes the most?

Yes, we have a very diverse student population with students from over 100 countries. Our largest student cohert is from China, followed by Malaysia.

What is so special about studying in the UK?

UK universities provide internationally recognised qualifications of the highest standard and British degrees are important to employers as they have a strong emphasis on gaining practical experience in the relevant field. UK universities place greater focus on smaller group tutorials, one-to-one tuitions, students are helped to think creatively, work from their own initiative and also as part of a team. The UK is known for having a multicultural society and is considered to be safe for students. The country also offers the opportunity of obtaining professional recognition from the professional bodies.

Does a university work as a corporate body? For instance, looking at emerging markets and trying to get more international students from the emerging markets when the not-so-good conditions at home don?t add up to the required revenues?

The University of Southampton is a world-class institution continually developing its global presence by attracting the best staff and students. Our aim is to be distinguished by being international in our perspectives and reputation, responding to issues of global importance.

Have you also thought about setting up campuses abroad?

The University is constantly reviewing and considering opportunities which meet its strategic objectives and to develop where appropriate.

What has been the trend on the applications this year from India?

We have been delighted that the number of well-qualified students applying from India has increased this year; in particular, we have seen increased interest in courses such as electronics, computer science, management, law, creative arts, actuarial sciences and renewable & sustainable energy technology.

What about the scholarship programmes for Indian students?

As well as the University?s Winchester School of Art offering 15 scholarships to Indian students, biological sciences, maths and law all offer a number of scholarships to the students from India. Our Indian students can also apply to one of the many other scholarships that the University offers.