Philip Green. (Photo: Australian high commission in New Delhi)
New Delhi: The Australian high commissioner to India, Philip Green, warmly applauded the inauguration of Australia’s Deakin University branch campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, on Wednesday. The inauguration took place during the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show (Vibrant Gujarat – 2024), where Green is leading a 90-member Australian delegation, including representatives from 36 universities from the country.
This the first foreign university to ever open a campus in India.
Praising the development, Green said, “I am so proud that the first university to establish a campus in India from anywhere in the world is Australia’s Deakin University at GIFT City. This opens a new chapter in Australia- India education ties, and this is only the beginning.”
Deakin University’s new state-of-the-art campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, will offer students the opportunity to pursue a Master of Business Analytics and Master of Cybersecurity (Professional) starting from July 2024, in line with GIFT City’s priority sectors.
Green further said, “Deakin University has had a remarkable 30-year presence in India, with investments in all aspects of higher education – from research collaborations with India Institutes of Technology, establishing a joint centre focussed on nanotechnology and sustainability with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), to their Global Job Readiness program for skilling young India with the National Skill Development Corporation. The campus is the next step in Deakin University’s long-term strategy of investment in India’s future.”
“The opening is a testament to the Australian education system, India’s progressive education policy and the warm and close relations between our nations. Later in 2024, we look forward to celebrating the opening of India’s second foreign branch campus in GIFT City by the University of Wollongong, also from Australia,” he added.
In 2023, more than 122,000 Indian students went to Australia for studies. With Deakin University’s new campus opening in India, more Indian students can now benefit from an Australian education without having to leave their home country.
In a news release, the Australian high commission in New Delhi said: “Australia’s strong representation signals the importance it attaches to greater two-way business activity and trade and investment opportunities with India.”
