The Minister of Education, The Hon Jason Clare MP is presently in India along with an Australian education delegation. Deakin University and the University of Wollongong’s moves into India are top of mind.
In addition to visiting the campuses of Deakin and Wollongong, which will open shortly, the Minister will co-chair the annual meeting of the Australia India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) with his Indian counterpart the Hon. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
The delegation to India includes:
- Professor Iain Martin – Vice-Chancellor, Deakin University
- Professor Patricia M. Davidson – Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Wollongong
- Professor Peter Høj AC – Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Adelaide
- Professor Renèe Leon PSM – Vice-Chancellor and President, Charles Sturt University
- Professor Pascale Quester – Vice-Chancellor and President, Swinburne University of Technology
- Professor Adam Shoemaker – Vice-Chancellor and President, Victoria University
- Professor Susan Elliott AM – Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash University
- Professor Mark Hoffman – Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Vice-President, University of Newcastle
- Mr Iain Watt – Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice-President (International), University of Technology Sydney
- Ms Jodi McKay – Director, Australia-India CEO Forum and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow South Asia, Western Sydney University
- The Hon Lisa Singh – Chief Executive Officer, Australia India Institute
- Ms Catriona Jackson – Chief Executive Officer, Universities Australia
- Ms Vicki Thomson – Chief Executive Officer and Director, Group of Eight
- The Hon Phil Honeywood – Chief Executive Officer, International Education Association of Australia
- Mr Paul Harris – Executive Director, Innovative Research Universities
Deakin University
Deakin University has had a strong presence in the subcontinent for some time, with the University announcing at an event yesterday it will open applications for students for Master of Business Analytics and Master of Cyber Security (Professional) programs at their new campus in GIFT City, Gujarat next week.
Welcoming students in 2024, Deakin University’s GIFT City Campus will be the world’s first-ever international university campus in India and is a key outcome of Deakin University’s ‘in India, with India, for India’ engagement strategy.
One of the big questions with opening in India has always been price point. Charging Australian levels fees would never work, but also charging local fees would create too much of a divide for what is a commensurate product.
According to the announcement, students who wish to enrol for either of the courses will receive the same standard of higher education in GIFT City as at Deakin in Australia, adhering to Deakin’s standards frameworks and aligned with the national accreditation body in Australia: Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Courses are accredited by the Australian Computer Society.
Deakin has announced the fee for these programs being set at approximately 10 lakh Indian rupees per year, saying “this represents a cost-effective option for students” according to the release issued. The Koala has done the conversion, and it works out at roughly AUD $18,600.00 per year (as at today).
This will undoubtedly be watched very carefully by anyone looking at setting up in India.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India said, “Today marks a historical milestone in the history of higher education in India, it is an occasion to envision the building of new India. The gift of these universities is a gift that India has been waiting for.”
The Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister of Education, Government of Australia saying, “Today, not far from here, history is being made, brick by brick. The campuses are a physical example of Australia – India friendship and the nation-changing power of education.”
He added, “India and Australia want to work together across industry and sectors and there’s no better sector than education to start. Today, words turn to action.”
Prof Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor, Deakin University said, “Deakin University celebrates 30 years in India next year and it gives me immense pride to acknowledge that we have charted the growth of our partnership with India alongside India’s growth story as one of the fastest developing nations of the world.”
“Deakin’s GIFT City Campus is a historic milestone in Australia-India education collaboration and a key development in our strategic goals to do more ‘with India, in India, for India’. It will enable Deakin to provide strategic resources and support for India’s growth journey by bridging and building capabilities in technology and business for sustained advancement as a digital economy.”
