Somaiya Vidyavihar, Sheffield Hallam universities sign MoU for sports science collaboration

October 30, 2026 /Posted byPrajwal EW / 0

Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai, and Sheffield Hallam University, UK, have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance academic collaboration in Sports and Exercise Science.

Signed on October 28, 2026, with the support of Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, the agreement will explore opportunities for joint research, staff and student exchanges, academic programme development and other scholarly initiatives.

The partnership aims to strengthen research and academic ties between India and the UK by combining the universities’ expertise in sports, physical activity and human performance. It will also provide opportunities for students and faculty to exchange knowledge and engage in collaborative academic activities.

Somaiya Vidyavihar University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajay Kapoor said the collaboration would bring research and practical learning closer together, creating opportunities for joint research, academic exchange and shared learning.

The initiative is supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), with a focus on developing educational ties between South Yorkshire and India. Jon Tunney, Executive Director for Communications at SYMCA, said the partnership would explore opportunities in sports management, an area of expertise at Sheffield Hallam University, alongside student exchanges and collaborative research.

Dr Ruth M Crabtree, Head of the School of Sport and Physical Activity at Sheffield Hallam University and President of the World Association for Sport Management, said the collaboration would also explore opportunities across sports and business education, including connections between India’s National Education Policy framework and lifelong learning in the UK.

Somaiya Vidyavihar University has integrated sports into its academic environment through its Sports and Exercise Science programmes. In 2026, it hosted the FISU World University Championship Squash, bringing student-athletes from across the world to its campus.

The two-year agreement will provide a framework for both universities to explore further academic collaboration, research and knowledge exchange.

Also Read: Birla Open Minds, Burlington English partner for digital learning

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Somaiya Vidyavihar, Sheffield Hallam universities sign MoU for sports science collaboration

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