Seven years on,  Mumbai University’s (MU) ambitious plans to set up an offshore campus remain on paper. Announced with much fanfare, the project, which even had funds sanctioned, is forgotten amid changing vice-chancellors and criticism.

In 2016, the varsity was invited to set up its campus in Dubai and United Arab Emirates (UAE). MU officials said that the administration made budgetary provisions worth Rs 20 lakh in its budget 2016-17. This was followed by a proposal to set up an offshore campus; it was tabled by the then vice-chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh before the academic council and passed in May 2017. The varsity had planned three undergraduate degree courses—psychology, sociology and economics at the Dubai campus, which was aimed to become operational from 2018-19.