A consortium of six premier Australian universities is exploring the establishment of a campus in Gurugram to offer undergraduate programs, according to a statement by the Haryana government. The delegation, led by Deputy High Commissioner of the Australian High Commission Nick McCaffrey, met with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to discuss the initiative.
The visiting delegation included Mathew Johnston, Minister Counsellor for Education and Research at the Australian High Commission; Professor Simon Biggs, Chair of the Innovative Research Universities (IRU) and Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University; along with representatives from other member universities of the consortium.
Earlier this year, the IRU announced Professor Simon Biggs as its Chair for 2024-2025, underscoring the group’s commitment to advancing international education partnerships.
Haryana’s Support for the Initiative
Chief Minister Saini welcomed the proposal and assured the delegation of the Haryana government’s full cooperation. He offered state support, including access to existing infrastructure for the proposed campus and facilitation of essential resources.
An MoU will soon formalize this collaboration, with Haryana’s Foreign Cooperation Department coordinating the initiative based on the requirements of the Australian universities.
Bringing Global Education Home
The proposed campus would allow Indian students, especially those from Haryana, to pursue undergraduate degrees from Australian universities without the need to travel abroad. Graduates would receive globally recognized certifications from the respective Australian institutions, enhancing their career prospects both locally and internationally.
“This initiative will significantly reduce the financial burden on students by eliminating the costs associated with overseas education, including hefty tuition fees and living expenses,” the government statement noted.
The campus is expected to launch four-year integrated programs in disciplines such as software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology, tourism and hospitality, and sports management. Course offerings will be expanded over time to address the evolving demands of the state and its workforce.
Strengthening India-Australia Ties
Deputy High Commissioner Nick McCaffrey highlighted the growing collaboration between India and Australia since 2014, facilitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Education remains the largest area of cooperation, opening new avenues for mutual growth and understanding,” he said.
The meeting also coincided with Haryana’s ongoing celebrations for the International Gita Mahotsav. The chief minister gifted copies of the Bhagavad Gita to the visiting delegation as a token of respect.
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Leaders in Attendance
The meeting was attended by Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi; Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rajesh Khullar; Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department, D. Suresh; Adviser to the Foreign Cooperation Department, Pawan Chaudhary; and Professor Rajbir Lohan, Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak.
This initiative marks a significant step in Haryana’s efforts to enhance global partnerships in education while making international-quality programs accessible to its students.
