Australia’s Western Sydney University to Set Up Campus in Bangalore by 2025

Source: Times of India

After the University Grants Commission (UGC) relaxed its norms and issued a fresh set of guidelines, several Australian Universities have recently announced their plans to set up their campuses in India. The Western Sydney University (WSU) is one among the many Universities which has confirmed to establish its campus in the country and is expected to open its campus in Bangalore by 2025. WSU will focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, especially in Agriculture. It plans on enrolling around 1,000 students in the next 5 years. 

The UGC's decision to allow foreign universities to establish campuses in India has been welcomed by many Universities worldwide. They are eager to expand their campuses in the country. Deakin University and the University of Wollongong have also expressed their interest in establishing their campuses in the Gift City of India - Gujarat.

In order to set up campuses in India, a consortium called the ‘Innovative Research Universities’ has been formed by 6 Australian Universities. Universities which are part of the consortium include James Cook University, Griffith University, WSU, the University of Canberra, La Trobe University, and Flinders University. 

Minister-Counsellor (Education and Research) Australian High Commission, Mathew Johnston, said that the enthusiasm among Australian universities has grown as the bilateral relations between India and Australia are currently at its peak.  He also added that Universities are keen on India's National Education Policy (NEP), the significant reforms and the modernization drive in the education sector.

Stefania Valenti, the managing director of Istituto Marangoni, stated that the UGC’s decision will attract students from neighbouring countries and India will become the hub for education in South Asia. Istituto Marangoni is an International Fashion School with a branch in Mumbai from 2018. The new UGC guidelines will further benefit the institute.

Founder and CEO of India Business Group, Amarjit Singh, said that the new UGC norms will be a game-changer, making India an even more attractive destination for Foreign Universities to establish their campuses and that several UK Universities are positively considering the same. He also added that with a rapidly growing economy, India offers a promising market for international education providers.