Director appointed to deliver outstanding research and enterprise at University of Southampton Delhi
National, 9th January 2026: The University of Southampton has appointed Professor Abhilash Nair as Director of Research and Enterprise at its new India campus.
Professor Nair will be responsible for advancing research, knowledge exchange and enterprise that will be locally grounded and globally impactful.
He will join the University of Southampton Delhi in February.
This new post will help deliver a world class education and student experience, with a strong emphasis on producing career-ready graduates who will make a meaningful impact.
Professor Nair will be responsible for ensuring that research and enterprise activities are aligned with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in areas such as inclusive growth, digital innovation, and climate resilience.
He currently leads a data protection consultancy project in India and was previously an Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Innovation at the University of Exeter. He is an internationally recognised expert in online safety, children’s rights and data privacy.
Professor Nair said: “I am delighted to be joining the University of Southampton Delhi at such a pivotal moment for the new campus. Southampton has a long-standing global reputation for research excellence, knowledge exchange, enterprise, and innovation. I look forward to working with colleagues in Delhi and across the wider University to build a strong and collaborative research and enterprise environment that is locally grounded and focused on delivering meaningful global impact.
“It is an honour to serve as the inaugural Director of Research and Enterprise for Southampton’s new campus in Delhi, and to help shape a world-class research, knowledge exchange, and enterprise ecosystem for the region and beyond.”
Professor Eloise Phillips, Academic Provost at the University of Southampton Delhi, said: “The Director of Research and Enterprise will play a key strategic role as we embed world-leading research and knowledge exchange and enterprise activity.
“We welcome Abhilash to the University of Southampton Delhi and look forward to working collaboratively to ensure the campus research and enterprise strategy supports our commitment to make a positive social impact, transforming lives and enhancing prosperity across the globe.”
University of Southampton Delhi became India’s first global top 100 university when the campus in Gurugram opened in August, providing high-quality education rooted in research excellence, innovation and real-world opportunities for Indian students. Southampton was the first University to receive approval to set up a campus by the University Grants Commission, India’s national Higher Education regulator.
Find out more about University of Southampton Delhi here
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About University of Southampton Delhi
University of Southampton Delhi, the first UGC-approved international campus in India, drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. We are ranked 17th in The Times Good University Guide 2026 (UK University Rankings). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 25,000-strong community of exceptional students from over 135 countries worldwide. Through our high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join our global network of over 200,000 alumni.
University of Southampton’s Successful Futures Pathway is an award-winning programme designed to help students evaluate their skills, align them with employer expectations, and prepare for successful career pathways. The programmes also offer tailored support and access to a wide range of work experience opportunities both on and off campus.
The University is globally recognised for its strong career outcomes, backed by a proven track record in graduate employability and industry engagement. According to the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022, it ranks among the top 110 institutions worldwide for employability. The University is also listed among the top 15 universities in the UK by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, and features among the top 10 UK universities most targeted by leading employers, as reported in The Graduate Market 2023.
