London Met Global formally launched with Westminster event News

The University celebrated international partnerships old and new in the House of Lords

Date: 29 October 2026

London Metropolitan University celebrated several of its successful international partnerships with a memorable evening in the House of Lords. 

The occasion was used to formally launch London Met Global and included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU). 

Sponsored by Lord Philip Hunt of Kings Heath, the evening was a showcase for the University’s global reach, partnerships and ambitions with parliamentarians and senior leaders in attendance. 

London Met Global represents the University's commitment to a co-ordinated, strategic and forward-looking approach to international engagement. 

Speaking at the event, Vice-Chancellor Julie Hall said: “Today is an important moment for London Metropolitan University. It is not only a gathering of valued international partners, but also a celebration of our global ambition and a significant step forward in our international journey, fully aligned with our 2032 Strategic Plan, which we will be launching later this year.

“At London Met, our mission has always been clear: to transform lives through education. We are proud to be a university rooted in one of the most diverse cities in the world, London, and to reflect that diversity in our community, our outlook and our partnerships.”

She said collaborations like the one with NISAU offer “exciting opportunities to strengthen educational links, support international student mobility and build meaningful connections between institutions, students and communities”.

“By working together, we can create pathways that enable students to access new experiences, develop their capabilities and become the leaders, innovators and global citizens of tomorrow.”

Lord Karan Bilimoria, London Met alumnus and founder of Cobra Beer

Also speaking at the event, Lord Karan Bilimoria said: "My role, as I see it in life as a former international student, is to champion international students and champion our universities going international. And there is no better example than what I have heard this evening of a university that is going truly global in every way: not only in attracting students here, but what you are doing, going out there and taking Britain to the world.

"And I always say our universities, our UK universities, are the best in the world, along with the United States of America. That is a fact. There is no debate about it; it is an absolute fact. And London Metropolitan is one of those best of the best. I am proud of what you do. I am proud of British universities."

Partnerships old and new

NISAU, the oldest and largest Indian student and alumni network in the UK, supports students and champions international education to boost collaboration. 

Sanam Arora, founder and chair of NISAU and a London Met governor, said it was an honour to be able to bridge the relationship with the University.

She added: “Our focus going forward is a lot more on careers and employability, and also creating entrepreneurs because I think that is where we need to go in terms of every student historically, particularly in the international education space, where most students tend to think about becoming job seekers. We want to move the dial to help them become job creators.” 

The MoU affirms both organisations' shared commitment to educational opportunity, student success, employability, inclusion and international engagement. 

It builds on London Met's strategic priorities around student success, graduate outcomes, inclusive education and social mobility, including its Student Success Strategy and Education for Social Justice Framework, alongside NISAU's mission as the "living bridge" between India and the UK. 

London Met and NISAU will collaborate on core issues such as student support and welfare, student journeys, employability and policy engagement.

The event was also held to recognise London Met’s new partnership with Malvern International and to mark the institution’s 15-year collaboration with the Innovate Nepal Group (ING) which has boosted international collaboration and provided significant opportunities for students. 

Malvern is the University’s new partner for its International Study Centre, delivering pathway programmes that prepare international students to join a London Met degree. 

The International Study Centre delivers foundation, international year one and pre-master’s programmes, preparing international students for progression to undergraduate and postgraduate study.