New South Wales University Establishes Campus in Bengaluru

Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW) has received a Letter of Intent to establish its campus in Bengaluru, as announced by India's Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

This announcement came during an event attended by Australia's Minister for Education, Jason Clare. UNSW is recognized as one of Australia's top universities, consistently ranking within the top 20 globally according to QS World University Rankings.

Earlier this year, similar Letters of Intent were granted to four Australian universities, allowing them to set up campuses in India. With the addition of UNSW, India now hosts seven Australian universities across eight campuses.

The choice of Bengaluru for the new campus is attributed to the city’s thriving technology ecosystem, availability of research partners, and strong potential for industry-linked learning.

Minister Pradhan, along with MoS Jayant Chaudhary, chaired the third Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) meeting, which included discussions on enhancing cooperation in education, research, and skill development.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that education, skills, and research are fundamental pillars of the India-Australia Strategic Partnership. Both nations are committed to collaborating on various areas such as early childhood education, technology adoption, and preparing youth for emerging fields, including AI and energy sustainability.

Pradhan highlighted the significance of implementing the discussions held during the meeting, aiming to strengthen the educational ties between the two countries. He also proposed exploring collaborative opportunities in Hackathons to address real-world challenges.

Jason Clare remarked that this partnership is beneficial for both nations, emphasizing the unique educational collaboration that exists between India and Australia.

Furthermore, discussions during the meeting included the endorsement of ₹9.84 crore for ten new joint research projects in crucial areas such as advanced computing and healthcare, alongside initiatives to integrate sports within educational frameworks.

The joint research projects are set to involve esteemed Indian institutions such as IIT Kharagpur and BITS Pilani, partnering with Australian universities like UNSW and UWA, focusing on innovative and sustainable technologies.