Gujarat's GIFT City Gets Campuses Of Two Australian Universities

Source: NDTV

New Delhi: The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his Australian counterpart Jason Clare have inaugurated two campuses of two Australian universities at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This initiative is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, which aims to internationalize education. The ministers visited the upcoming campuses of Wollongong and Deakin Universities at GIFT City on Tuesday and announced the launch of the campuses. The vice-chancellors of Deakin University and the University of Wollongong praised the importance of country-to-country partnerships and noted the remarkable progress in bilateral relations between India and Australia, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. They also shared their plans, including the expected start of courses at the Indian campuses.

Mr Pradhan, addressing the gathering, said that the presence of foreign university campuses in India would not only encourage "Study

In India" but also create a lively, diverse, and inclusive educational environment, in sync with the vision of the NEP 2020.

The Education Minister also highlighted that these campuses in GIFT City, often called the land of opportunities, are a ‘gift’ to the student community.

He emphasized that students and faculty from across the world will work, learn, and grow together as part of these efforts.

He added that this transformative policy focuses on ‘Internationalization at Home,’ aiming to create a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive educational atmosphere within the country.

The ministers also participated in a conclave titled ‘Research Dialogue: New Horizons in Research Collaboration.’ The purpose of this conclave was to explore innovative opportunities for enhancing bilateral collaboration in the flourishing research ecosystem. The event was attended by the Australian delegation, senior representatives from key Indian higher education and research institutions, and other dignitaries.

Mr Pradhan, in his speech at the ‘Research Dialogue,’ urged university leaders and researchers to create new avenues for deepening bilateral research collaborations between India and Australia.