UNSW to Set Up India Campus as Australia–India Education Council Meets in Delhi

Ten new research collaborations under India’s SPARC scheme are set to be announced, during two day inter-ministerial meet.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is set to establish a campus in India as the two countries prepare for 3rd Australia–India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) meeting in capital on December 8–9.

University Grants Commission is expected to issue a Letter of Intent to UNSW, opening door for one more foreign institution to begin operations in country.

AIESC meeting, which brings together senior ministers and officials responsible for education and skill development, will take stock of ongoing cooperation and identify new areas of work. Delegations from both sides will review progress made in school education reforms, curriculum development, university partnerships and the expansion of skill-based training programmes. The meeting is also expected to focus on improving pathways that allow students to move between Indian and Australian institutions with fewer hurdles.

A significant portion of the discussions will look at early childhood education, where both countries have been exploring common frameworks and training models. Teacher development, especially collaborative programmes between Indian and Australian universities, is another area likely to see movement. Officials have also lined up proposals meant to streamline the mutual recognition of qualifications, which has been a long-standing demand from students on both sides.

Ten new research collaborations under India’s SPARC scheme are set to be announced, covering themes that include advanced manufacturing, sustainability and healthcare innovation. These projects will be carried out jointly by Indian and Australian higher education institutions and are expected to strengthen research links that have grown steadily over the past few years.

The council meeting is viewed as an important platform for shaping the next phase of bilateral cooperation in education. For India, the presence of foreign universities—particularly those with established global reputations—ties in with the government’s broader plan to expand internationalisation and widen student options within the country. With UNSW preparing to take the first formal step towards setting up its India campus, the meeting is expected to mark a key moment in that process.