Deakin University, has officially unveiled its India campus, opening India’s first ever international branch campus. This initiative aims to epitomise the friendship, collaboration and commitment between the Indian and Australian Government and Deakin University supporting the realisation of knowledge exchange and educational excellence envisioned by the National Education Policy 2020, as per the official announcement.
Leading up to the official campus inauguration, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, met with the Deakin delegation and spoke about enhancing collaboration between government and academic institutions pertaining to cyber security.
“Australia setting up India’s first ever foreign university campus is a landmark moment in Australia-India relations. This opens a new chapter in our education ties and this is only the beginning,” Philip Green OAM, Australian High Commissioner to India, said during his address at the inauguration event at the India campus in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Deakin’s GIFT City Campus, India aims to give local students access to Deakin’s future-ready, world-class, postgraduate courses in business analytics and cyber security at half the cost of Australian international fees.
“Opening the world’s first international branch campus in India reflects our commitment to offering global education that empowers students to excel in the digital age. This is an investment in the future leaders who will uphold and strengthen the bond between our nations,” Professor Martin said.
Notably, Professor Iain Martin, also represented Australia, in a CEO roundtable with Prime Minister Modi, prior to the inauguration.
“Steadfast in our promise to give back to the community and change lives, two fully funded scholarships will be awarded to economically challenged students, underlining Deakin’s commitment to foster educational equity and nurture local talent,” Professor Martin said.
The campus claims to feature new digital classrooms, libraries and cyber security labs, aimed at delivering an exceptional educational experience, while its digital integration with Deakin’s Australian campuses ensure students will have comprehensive access to essential learning resources.
The campus will also serve as a startup incubator, nurturing entrepreneurial talent and innovation with specialised short courses and extensive support to elevate the regional startup landscape.