Beyond student flows – how Australia is building its education future in India
For Australia and India, this shift is particularly significant. For decades, the relationship has been anchored in student mobility, with Australia a leading destination for Indian students. That foundation remains strong. However, what is now emerging is a more complex and, arguably, more consequential phase, one centred on institutional presence, shared capability and long-term collaboration within India itself.
This is not a departure from the past, but a natural evolution.
India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has created a clear opening for international collaboration. Its emphasis on quality, access and global engagement signals a willingness to rethink how education is delivered and experienced. Australian institutions are responding with intent.
Seven Australian universities are expanding into India with international branch campuses; Deakin and Wollongong are already active in GIFT City, with five more set to follow. These new campuses join a robust network of over 450 existing education partnerships already bridging the two nations Recently, Austrade led a TNE Week delegation of around 16 Australian education providers and universities around The PIE Live, highlighting this shift to embed delivery-focused collaboration models.
Austrade and The PIE Live hosted the panel “From Classroom to Corporate: Building the Global Graduate” in the presence of mix audience of Australian, India and UK universities. It focused on how transnational education (TNE) boosts job prospects for Indian students, highlighting TNE grads as globally skilled who adapt well locally too. The talk shared real results, like better placement rates and skills that match employer needs.
Outcome driven approach
Australian international branch campuses, in particular, represent a notable step. Their success will depend not only on institutional ambition, but on how effectively they integrate with India’s regulatory environment, local partners and evolving workforce needs.
For students, the value proposition lies in gaining globally recognised Australian qualifications that are also locally meaningful. Models that combine international curricula with applied learning and industry exposure will be critical.
Our focus is to expand Australia’s education engagement in India, deepen institutional partnerships, and drive innovation that delivers outcomes for students, industry, community and both our economies
Vik Singh, trade and investment commissioner
For employers, the expectation is clearer still. Graduates must be equipped not just with academic credentials, but with skills aligned to sectors undergoing rapid transformation,
Another shift evident in conversations at The PIE Live is the growing importance of research collaboration. Australia and India share strategic priorities in climate resilience, energy transition, health systems, and food security.
Australian Institutions are already partnering with India’s premier IITs to deliver world-class research and innovation joint academies.
While momentum is strong, the expansion of transnational education, will require careful calibration.
Partnerships must remain responsive to local context, rather than replicating models developed elsewhere.
For Australia, the approach is necessarily measured. The objective is not rapid expansion for its own sake, but the development of partnerships that are durable, mutually beneficial and aligned with India’s broader education and economic priorities.
What emerged most clearly at The PIE Live was a shared understanding, no single institution or country can address the scale of education and skills challenges alone.
The Australia-India education relationship is increasingly defined by partnership, between institutions, between sectors, and between two systems seeking to learn from each other.
Austrade’s role is to support this process, facilitating connections, helping navigate India’s education landscape and enabling collaboration to move from intent to implementation.
If the past decade was defined by mobility, the next may well be defined by presence. And in that shift lies the next wave for partnership.
About the author: Vik Singh is consul (Commercial) and trade and investment commissioner for Austrade in South Asia. He leads Austrade’s education teams across the dynamic and fast-growing South Asia Region. Vik was appointed to India in Nov 2023 and was previously based in Sydney, leading various trade, international education, and digital transformation projects at Austrade.
Vik brings 20 years of business experience working in both in domestic and international leadership roles across business development, international student recruitment, marketing, data insights and commercial partnerships. Most recently he was heading up the Asia Pacific operations for IDP Connect. Vik holds a postgraduate degree in Information Systems from Victoria University and brings a diverse range of skills and experience to help businesses grow.
About Austrade: The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) promotes Australia on the global stage, grows and diversifies trade and helps build Australia’s economic security and prosperity. With over 100 offices at home and worldwide, Austrade helps Australian businesses achieve diverse export outcomes and win investment needed to grow. We deliver government programs to support trade and investment and share commercial insights to inform government policy. We are responsible for the Commonwealth’s tourism policy, programs and the national strategy for the visitor economy’s long-term sustainable growth. We also promote Australia’s education to the world. Go further, faster with austrade.gov.au.
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