18 January 2024

Deakin opens first international branch campus in India, announces campus in Indonesia

Our campuses have extended overseas this week, with Deakin becoming the first university in the world to open an international branch campus in India’s Gujarat International Finance Tec-city (GIFT City). It’s a time of many firsts, with Deakin University GIFT City Campus being India’s first international branch campus and Deakin’s first branch campus overseas.

Deakin was the first international university to establish a presence in India in 1994 and, in the 30 years since, we’ve continued to develop partnerships with leading research institutions, universities and corporations in India.

Deakin University GIFT City Campus

Located in the heart of the smart business precinct, Deakin University GIFT City Campus features brand-new digital classrooms, a library and cyber security labs, aimed at delivering an exceptional educational experience. The campus was approved in 2023 and has been set up and built in less than 12 months.

The new campus focuses on preparing postgrad students for the rapidly advancing digital economy, building their skills in technology and business. Courses, initially available to Indian residents, will be taught face-to-face in English with access to learning content through existing virtual resources.

Inauguration event

The campus launch, on the night of Wednesday 10 January, was attended by distinguished guests from government, academia and industry from both India and Australia, including Deakin alumni Princess Jahnavi Kumari Mewar.

Chancellor of Deakin University, John Stanhope AM, described visiting the campus as, ‘like walking into the Burwood Campus and that’s deliberate. We want it to be a true Deakin experience and it will be’. The Chancellor also announced that our first offer will include two scholarships, one for each course, covering the full fee and living costs for highly meritorious, underprivileged students.

Australian High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Philip Green OAM, congratulated everyone at Deakin, ‘Deakin is a big institution but taking on an activity like this is no simple matter. It requires leadership, it requires a vision, and it probably requires a little bit of courage. Congratulations Deakin. Hats off to all of you. It’s a very proud day to be the Australian High Commissioner.’

‘To see this result expands our collective visions and the possibilities of limitless goals and achieving through engagement and friendship,’ said Ravneet Pawha, Vice-President (Global Alliances) and CEO (South Asia) of Deakin University, ‘I welcome everyone today to be part of this milestone that will not only resonate far and wide but will also set a precedence for the future endeavours between India and the world’.

Australian High Commissioner to India and Chancellor of Deakin University officially open the campus.

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin leading up to the event and spoke about enhancing the collaboration between government and academic institutions relating to cyber security. Prime Minister Modi also recognised Deakin’s three-decades of engagement in India that has led to the launch of the GIFT City Campus.

During his visit, Professor Martin also represented Australia in a CEO roundtable with Prime Minister Modi and said, ‘Opening the world’s first international branch campus in India reflects our commitment to offering global education that empowers students to excel in the digital age. This is an investment in the future leaders who will uphold and strengthen the bond between our nations’.

John Stanhope AM, Ravneet Pawha and Professor Iain Martin at the GIFT City Campus this week.

Find out more!

There has already been a surge of interest to study at Deakin’s GIFT City Campus, with potential students drawn to internationally accredited programs and unique internship opportunities within GIFT City’s industry network. Applications close on Sunday 31 March 2024 and classes are scheduled to commence in July 2024.

Find out more by visiting Deakin’s GIFT City Campus webpage.

Our continuing global journey

But wait, there’s more, Deakin has also announced the next step in our global journey! We will be opening our second international branch campus in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia in September 2024. The campus will be a collaboration with Lancaster University.

Together, these international branch campuses support Deakin’s goals to build distinctive education partnerships across countries to offer students the chance to study and gain qualifications from Deakin with the benefits of living and working close to home.