The education landscape in India is dynamic and evolving quickly.
As the Industrial Revolution 4.0 gathers pace – driven by rapid advancements in AI and automation – higher education in India is poised to capitalise on new opportunities and lead the way on the international stage.
Working closely with its partners, India is prioritising the needs of its workforce and economy. Responding to emerging demands, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has charted an ambitious path for the internationalisation of higher education.
Australia, a longstanding ally, has proven itself as a reliable provider of global standards of education, skilling, research and knowledge resource support.
‘In recent years, this relationship has continued to strengthen, and India is now undoubtedly one of the most significant partners for Australia on the world stage – geopolitically and economically.’
Forging deeper bonds through education
The relationship between our nations continues to demonstrate shared interests and priorities across education, regional stability and security, energy and resources and trade and investment.
Over the next decade, we have an exciting opportunity in the international context to work together in making our economies robust and sustainable while being responsive to ongoing changes and increasing global competition. A crucial component of this roadmap is education, as it truly underlines the Australia – India story.
The NEP 2020 supports building these connections and collaborations across the education sector. Australia lends valuable support by marking education as a flagship sector in the India Economic Strategy Report. With the NEP’s emphatic call to open wide the doors of international education, Deakin welcomes the opportunity to further strengthen its education linkages and strategic partnerships with Indian institutions. It will continue to leverage its deep engagement in India to spearhead innovative and contemporary approaches to knowledge sharing.
Deakin In India
Deakin University, Australia was the first international university to establish offices in India in 1994 and has an immensely productive record of engagement across academia, industry and government.
Through meaningful partnerships with Indian universities and academic institutions, and a thorough understanding of the needs and challenges of the local context, Deakin has always sought to develop a future-ready workforce for India. At Deakin, 35% of the international student cohort are Indian nationals. The University has highly regarded expertise in promoting knowledge exchange and mobility, and creating shared research and development outcomes. It currently has active partnerships with 60 countries, and is now adding new dimensions to its India engagement.
Deakin and Symbiosis International (Deemed University) - Building on a strong partnership
‘Taking our partnership of over two decades forward, we shall continue to achieve our goals of education beyond borders and mutually beneficial collaborations, which form the cornerstone of bilateral linkages between Australia and India.’
Deakin and Symbiosis have established a productive partnership and upheld their commitment to foster global learning and growth outcomes, as well as excellence in research that drives positive impact for international communities.
This collaboration includes a Deakin HUB successfully operating at SIU. Their partnership has achieved significant goals for internationalisation of curriculum, hybrid models of engagement, offering student support and mobility between campuses and facilitating critical in-country support for student mobility, internships and industry interface. Additionally, both organisations have developed consultancy initiatives in research, innovation and skills development, thereby strengthening university-industry-government cohesion.
In keeping with the Deakin value of upholding gender equity and inclusion, Deakin University also works with Symbiosis through the Women Entrepreneurship Research Alliance (WERA). It is a one-of-a-kind centre in India that works through research, training, and policy advocacy to bridge the gender disparities in entrepreneurship.
In all these endeavours Deakin has made consistent efforts to work more effectively with partner institutions in India, collaborating closely with industry. It aims to improve the adaptability of innovation and research to generate future-focused, entrepreneurial solutions.
With Symbiosis, Deakin will be improving the access to an internationalised educational experience for Indian students through a dual degree and accelerated masters program. The partnership agreement will lead better student mobility outcomes, opening up global academic and career opportunities for Indian students.
‘In India’: a crucial role for the future
‘Each year, Deakin teaches more than 3,000 students from the Indian sub-continent and India, and the region is certainly a priority partner in education with benefits that flow both ways.’
In the coming years, Deakin is well positioned to balance capability in both discovery and application of ideas to create products and services that will benefit communities and partners. It will work in alignment with Australia and India’s policy framework to achieve socio-economic progress with its institutional partners. This will be the main focus of its research and innovation.
Originating from a popular choice among students heading to Australia for higher studies, Deakin looks at bringing a global classroom to India and ensuring diversification of learning and mobility to create an environment of sharing through culture, knowledge, living and understanding.
By Prof Iain Martin, President & Vice Chancellor, Deakin University - Professor Martin commenced as Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University on 1 July 2019. He grew up in the UK and completed his medical degree, a doctorate, and a Master of Education at the University of Leeds. Professor Martin’s move from a clinical academic career to wider university leadership roles was driven through his passionate belief in the importance of universities and the transformational power of higher education for individuals and communities.
Discover more about Deakin’s engagement in India right here .
For more information on Deakin University, please visit: www.deakin.edu.au
