
25/09/2025
Syndicate Meeting held at Guru Nanak Dev University
Land and Necessary Infrastructure to establish GNDU Open Offshore Campus in California
Guru Nanak Dev University Expands Global Footprint with US Campus
GNDU California Campus to Serve Punjabi Diaspora
Amritsar, September 25, (Samvad Bureau ) - Guru Nanak Dev University is all set to establish its first offshore campus in California, USA, with the requisite land and infrastructure. Describing California as an ideal location due to its large and vibrant Punjabi diaspora, particularly in the Central Valley region, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh said the campus would serve as a hub for promoting Punjabi language, culture, literature, and Sikh philosophy. It will also help second- and third-generation diaspora youth reconnect with their cultural roots through formal academic programs. Initially, the university plans to launch online courses in three areas: Punjabi for non-Punjabi speakers, Punjab History and Culture, and an Introduction to Sikhism. The decision was officially approved during the Syndicate meeting held at the university campus on Thursday, under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh.
Registrar Prof. K.S. Chahal presented the meeting agenda, which also included the approval of 30 Ph.D. degrees. He welcomed new Syndicate members including S. Jagdish Singh, S. Jatinder Singh Aulakh, and Dr. Amarjit Singh Sidhu. The meeting was attended by members both online and offline, including Dean Academic Affairs Prof. Palwinder Singh and other senior officials.
The California campus will also focus on academic and cultural exchange between India and the United States. "Our aim is to promote collaborative research in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, climate change, sports science, and community health. The California campus is envisioned as a vibrant center for Indo-U.S. educational collaboration, promoting a global learning environment that bridges continents and cultures through technology-driven classrooms and shared academic vision.
We also plan to facilitate faculty exchange and joint academic programs with transferable credits between GNDU and partner institutions in the US," Prof. Karamjeet Singh added.
Vice Chancellor said that apart from academic offerings, the campus will also contribute to workforce and economic development in California by offering vocational and professional training programs aligned with the state’s economy — including IT, entrepreneurship, healthcare, pharmacy, tourism, and renewable energy. Plans are also underway to employ local faculty, staff, and service providers to strengthen the university’s local footprint, he added.
Prof. Karamjeet Singh informed the house that the land and infrastructure for the proposed offshore campus would be provided by S. Jaspreet Singh, Attorney at Law, based in California. Prof. Karamjeet Singh said that S. Jaspreet Singh in a message conveyed to the university."Since GNDU is my alma mater, it is both an honour and a privilege to contribute towards its global vision by donating land and infrastructure for its first overseas campus,".
Members of the Syndicate expressed satisfaction over the university’s growing national and international stature and lauded the Vice-Chancellor for his leadership. The proposal to establish the overseas campus was met with unanimous approval and appreciation.