India’s University Grants Commission has approved The University of Western Australia’s application to establish international branch campuses in India, making UWA the first Group of Eight university from Australia to receive such recognition under India’s National Education Policy 2020.
The first UWA campus is set to open in Mumbai, followed by Chennai, which will offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in STEM and business to meet the aspirations of Indian students and evolving needs of the global workforce and economy.
UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said the University was honoured to receive UGC’s approval and excited to deepen its partnership with India.
“This milestone reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and global collaboration, and solidifies our commitment to being a leading university in the Indo-Pacific region,” Professor Chakma said.
As part of its commitment to inclusive education, UWA has partnered with the Avasara Academy, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to empowering young women leaders, to offer full scholarships to girls from low socio-economic backgrounds. The initiative aims to create pathways for talented students who may otherwise lack access to world-class education.
In a move to foster innovation and industry collaboration, UWA has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HCLTech, one of India’s leading global technology companies. The agreement includes plans to develop short courses and university-innovation hubs across UWA’s campuses in India and Western Australia creating a dynamic network for research, entrepreneurship and digital transformation.
UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) Professor Guy Littlefair said the University’s collaboration with HCLTech would connect academic research to real-world innovation, benefiting students, startups and industry.
The approval follows high-level discussions between UWA leadership and Indian government officials earlier this year. UWA’s expansion into India is expected to promote research collaboration, student mobility, innovation connections and industry partnerships, further strengthening the Australia-India bilateral relationship and fostering strengthened intergenerational relationships between both nations.
UWA’s Indian campuses will uphold the same academic standards and quality assurance frameworks as its Perth campus while ensuring students receive a globally recognised education close to home.
