Epigeum, originally a spin out from the Imperial College, London, is a leading provider of online courses designed to help universities and colleges transform their core activities - in teaching, research, studying and leadership and management. OUP recently acquired the company.

The courses are developed through global collaboration of experts and partner universities and shared by subscription. They are produced by the in-house editorial team and online professionals and used by leading institutions across the world.

"We are pleased to launch Epigeum in India, an innovative and collaborative approach to supporting university priorities of teaching, research, studying, and leadership and management. We hope that Epigeum will be welcomed by the Indian and Asian teaching and research communities for its quality and ease of access," said Nigel Portwood, chief executive, Oxford University Press.

Barton added, "By developing its business globally as part of the world's largest university press, Epigeum with OUP will be able to reach more learners in more places than either company did before. Epigeum trains administrators how to administer, researchers how to research, teachers how to teach, and students how to study. Our ambition is to do this in every country in which there are universities: this activity is core to Oxford University Press’s mission. Epigeum advances our mission and strategy by extending the high-quality online content and services we offer to universities and colleges."

Epigeum has 20+ collaborations, published 20+ programmes comprising of 80+ courses. It has partnered with 33 of the top 100 global universities in the QS world rankings 2014/15 and the courses are used by over 260 universities in 29 countries, including 95 percent of the Russell Group. In India, OUP is confidant of adding value by supplementing the work done by academia and help them reach wider audiences.

OUP follows a highly collaborative approach in developing new courses. The process involves a development group of up to 20 universities who provide feedback throughout the development process. It partners world-class subject experts and together with the expertise of in-house editorial staff and web developers, courses that are insightful, engaging and effective are built.

Fletcher said, "At Epigeum we are very excited to be making our first steps in working with Indian universities on finding the right balance of international and local perspectives in training researchers, instructors and students through online and blended learning."