7 Aus varsities join hands, keen to open joint campus in India

7 Aus varsities join hands, keen to open joint campus in India

26.10.2024

New Delhi : Innovative Research Universities (IRU), a consortium of seven Australian universities has expressed interest in opening a joint campus in India. Discussions on the same took place between education ministry and IRS officials on Thursday and Friday, reports Manash Gohain. Deakin University welcomed its inaugural batch of students to its GIFT City campus in Gujarat in July 2024, thus becoming the first foreign university to start its India operations. 

University of Wollongong (UOW India) is the second Australian university which started offering programmes from its GIFT City campus. As per IRU website, it is “a coalition of public universities across Australia committed to inclusive education and innovative research that advances our communities”, established in July 2003. It comprises of Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University, University of Canberra, and Western Sydney University. According to govt sources, it expressed interest in an India campus during Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s visit. 

Apart from attending 2nd Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) meeting in Sydney Thursday, Pradhan interacted with high level administrators from IRU. He was apprised of collaborative approaches to education delivery and efforts to facilitate impactful research for society. “The deliberation which started on Thursday during interaction with Pradhan, extended to Friday with officials discussing details of possible research and other academic collaboration. Post further meetings, an announcement is likely to be made later this year,” said the source. “India-Australia have a strong bilateral connection, especially in education sector and with the minister’s (Pradhan) second visit, more engagements are likely to happen, which include more Australian universities looking at option of setting up campuses, and offering joint/dual/twinning degrees,” said the source.