La Trobe University has concluded an extensive South Asia roadshow, moving through Nepal, India and Sri Lanka in a coordinated push to deepen engagement with students, agents and institutional partners in one of its most strategically important regions.
Spanning Kathmandu, New Delhi, Jaipur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Hyderabad, Chennai and Colombo, the program blended student events, partner meetings and academic-led workshops. The approach reflected a deliberate effort to move beyond recruitment and into clearer conversations about outcomes, employability and the role of higher education in a shifting global labour market.
Academic staff across agriculture, health, business, education and technology were embedded throughout the tour, bringing subject depth into market and reinforcing the institution’s positioning around real world relevance. The presence of academics also allowed for more detailed discussions with both students and agents, particularly as expectations around career pathways become more defined.
Nepal emerged as an early stage engagement market, with sessions focused on building foundational understanding of international study options. In India, the roadshow followed a more structured and repeatable format, designed to create consistency across multiple cities while strengthening ties with agents and institutional partners.
A key moment came in New Delhi, where La Trobe partnered with the Victorian Government and iSTEP to deliver a teacher focused workshop examining how classroom practice is evolving alongside artificial intelligence. The session pointed to a broader shift in messaging, with AI now positioned not as a niche offering but as a central pillar across teaching and learning.
Miriam Tanti, Deputy Dean and Associate Dean of Partnerships, described the workshop as a reflection of growing appetite among educators to rethink established approaches. She noted a high level of curiosity and openness to change, particularly as schools and universities respond to the implications of AI in learning environments.
Across the broader tour, the role of agents remained a consistent theme. Professor Louise Lexis highlighted the influence agents have in shaping how students understand and access education, particularly in markets where decision making is closely guided.
The Sri Lanka leg included engagement in Colombo, supported by Austrade, and a visit to La Trobe’s local campus. Discussions again centred on the integration of artificial intelligence, alongside broader conversations about the future of work and curriculum design within the Business School.
Senior Regional Director Amit Malhotra framed the roadshow as evidence of sustained demand for globally connected education with a strong career focus. He pointed to the depth of engagement across markets and the value of having academic leaders on the ground to translate institutional strengths into tangible outcomes for prospective students.
The roadshow also underscores a more competitive and complex operating environment in South Asia. Students are increasingly focused on return on investment, clarity of pathways and alignment with emerging industries. Institutions, in turn, are being pushed to demonstrate not just access, but outcomes.
For La Trobe, the insights gathered are expected to shape ongoing activity in the region. The emphasis remains on strengthening partnerships, supporting clearer student pathways and aligning programs with workforce demand, particularly in areas such as health, technology and artificial intelligence.
The message from the road appears consistent. Engagement is no longer just about presence in market. It is about credibility, clarity and connection to future careers.
