The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), on the sidelines of a high-profile global education summit in Mumbai, has formalised a significant partnership with the University of York, United Kingdom, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will open new frontiers across future-ready disciplines including animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality (AVGC-XR), filmmaking, and design.

The collaboration involves CoStar Live Lab, a research lab led by the University of York. The partnership will focus on dual-degree pathways, joint curriculum development, startup incubation, and immersive learning experiences designed to nurture India’s next generation of creative technologists and storytellers.

Signed by Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO, IICT, and Prof. Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of York, the agreement spans a five-year term and aims to significantly enhance the academic and professional scope for Indian learners.

Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, said, “This MoU represents not just an academic partnership but a shared vision for the future of creative education. Together, we aim to empower Indian students with international exposure and transformative opportunities in creative technologies.”

Professor Charlie Jeffery said, "The creative industries are global in nature, and this partnership enables students in both India and the UK to benefit from shared expertise, cutting-edge research, and real-world innovation. It’s an important step in developing talent that will shape the future of storytelling and digital experience.”

The partnership adds momentum to India’s ambition of becoming a global hub for creative technology education and innovation, with Navi Mumbai’s upcoming Education City poised to be its epicentre. With the University of York joining the growing list of global collaborators at IICT, the institute continues to build an impressive global academic network to train and empower India’s creative and digital talent pool.