Pawha’s bold vision is for GIFT City to be regional hub in the future
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told a delegation of Deakin University to work on enhancing collaboration between the Government and academic institutions pertaining to cyber security.
He also noted Deakin’s three-decade presence and engagement in India and the opening of India’s first-ever foreign university campus by Deaken at the Gift City in Gandhinagar.
The Prime Minister spoke to Deaken representatives John Stanhope AM, Chancellor, Professor Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor and Ravneet Pawha, Vice-President (Global Alliances) and CEO (South Asia) during the Vibrant Gujarat, an international expo being held 10-12 Jan.
The Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green added, “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,” Green said at the inauguration event at the India campus in GIFT City.
Deakin’s GIFT City Campus gives Indian 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 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,” he said.
“Commemorating Deakin University’s 50th anniversary and 30 years in India, opening our campus in India magnifies these milestones,” Professor Martin said.
The campus features brand-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.
As India’s workforce requirements expand and evolve within emerging technology sectors, Deakin University is set to expand its academic portfolio at the India campus, equipping students for global market leadership and positioning Deakin as an educational contributor to India’s growing digital workforce.
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.
At the formal ceremony, Ravneet Pawha, highlighted the exciting time for cross-cultural education between Australia and India, and untapped global learning experiences.
“Our bold vision is for GIFT City is to be a regional hub in the future, attracting students from across the globe to India and offering Australian students a unique opportunity to spend a trimester at Gujarat,” she said.
Following the launch, Deakin University kick-started its industry engagements with the inaugural Deakin University x IABCA Leadership Roundtable. The event brought together prominent figures from both Indian and Australian governments and industries for a participative dialogue on ‘Building Sustainable Futures across the Australia–India Corridor’, setting the stage for a series of strategic dialogues and partnerships for shared progress.
Speaking about this historic junction in Indo–Australian education relations, Pawha said, “I commend the tireless efforts and support from both nations’ governments in realising this audacious project.
“This sets the stage for more innovative, expansive work in bilateral knowledge co-operation, envisioning a future where education knows no borders. I strongly encourage Indian students and professionals to embrace this opportunity and emerge as global pioneers in a tech-forward economy.”
The opportunity to study at Deakin’s GIFT City Campus has seen a surge of interest, with potential students drawn to internationally accredited programs and unique internship opportunities within GIFT City’s industry network.
Established in 1974, Deakin University successfully combines excellence in teaching, research and effective partnerships with industry and government to deliver high-quality courses and undertake research that makes a difference to the domestic and international communities it serves.
Deakin’s South Asia operations commenced in 1994 at New Delhi, making it one of the first overseas education provider to set operations in this region. fiinews.com
