Embracing global standards of learning and innovation, Deakin University has welcomed its inaugural batch in India, offering an education system modelled after the Australian framework but tailored to meet the specific needs of the Indian industry and workforce.
As Deakin University welcomed its inaugural postgraduate batch to the GIFT City Campus in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, top officials of the varsity said the excitement of being the first students of the first international university to establish a campus in India was palpable.
Prof Iain Martin, vice-chancellor of Deakin University, said: “The GIFT City Campus has adopted global standards of learning and innovation, offering an education modelled after the Australian system but designed to meet the needs of the Indian industry and workforce.” Students will be interning and collaborating with industry players such as IIBX, Infosys, HCLTech, TCS, NSE Academy, Xebia, India INX, L&T Edutech, Indifour Consult, etc, he added.
The batch, comprising 45 students, has begun classes in the Master of Cyber Security (Professional) and Master of Business Analytics programmes – both two-year programmes. The first-year curriculum includes eight core units delivered through classroom sessions. During the second year, students will undertake a cadetship, collaborating directly with industry partners on project assignments.
The fee for each of these programmes is A$38,000 (about Rs 21.4 lakh), with an additional Rs 4.5 lakh covering hostel and food facilities. There are two fully-funded scholarships covering tuition and living expenses for deserving students facing financial constraints, under the Deakin University and GIFT City Scholarship Programme 2024.
Ravneet Pawha, Deakin vice-president (Global Alliances) and CEO (South Asia), said the campus will provide work-ready students capable of meeting the demands of a new corporate landscape. “We are developing programmes in response to industry feedback, ensuring our students are among the most sought-after graduates globally,” she said.
She added that students can access the same quality of education offered in Australia, complete with international accreditations, without needing to go abroad. Deakin academic standards are aligned with the national accreditation body in Australia — the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Students can access the same quality of education offered in Australia, complete with international accreditations, without needing to go abroad. Deakin academic standards are aligned with the national accreditation body in Australia — the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Pawha added.
On March 8, 2023, in Ahmedabad, during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Deakin University of Australia became the first foreign university to announce the establishment of a campus in India, located in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) — a smart business district situated between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Deakin has initially invested A$4 million (about Rs 22.5 crore) in the first phase, making it the first foreign university to start a full-fledged campus in India.
This announcement followed the release of a draft in January 2023 by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which outlined guidelines for foreign universities to establish campuses in India. These guidelines cover aspects such as admission procedures, fee structures, and the repatriation of funds to their parent campuses.
Apart from Deakin University, Australia’s University of Wollongong is anticipated to commence classes soon, offering courses in IT, STEM, business, and fintech. Education analysts have informed FE that several universities from Western countries are also in discussions with GIFT City officials to establish campuses.
“About 200 companies will soon be operating in the GIFT City and most of them will need people with cybersecurity, business analytics, fintech and IT skills,” an analyst said. “These campuses will support the GIFT City’s aspiration to deliver a supply of job-ready graduates to its target business segments.”