Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor strengthens global partnerships during India and Vietnam visits
Formal announcement of the University’s new campus in India
Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, joined Australian government ministers and sector leaders in New Delhi, India, for the Australia–India Education and Skills Council meeting.
The delegation, led by Minister for Education, The Hon. Jason Clare, Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles and Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill, met with India’s Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, to discuss expanding collaboration in education, skills, and research.
Western Sydney University was delighted to be actively involved in the delegation, with the University’s Provost, Professor Deborah Sweeney, also in India to align efforts and support the visit.
During the trip, Western Sydney University signed memoranda of understanding and agreements with several leading Indian institutions, including the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, IIT Ropar, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMK), and the KMCT Group of Institutions, strengthening research, innovation, and education collaboration.
A formal announcement was made on Tuesday, 9 December at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, to officially confirm the location of Western Sydney University’s branch campus in the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority Building, with Minister Clare, representatives from the Uttar Pradesh Government, and the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority.
In his remarks, Professor Williams spoke about the opportunities to strengthen Western Sydney University’s global presence while creating educational and research opportunities for students and communities in both India and Australia. He further highlighted the University’s plan for its new campus in Greater Noida which received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) earlier this year.
“Western Sydney University represents 10 per cent of Australia’s population – we are young, dynamic, diverse and global. We are inspired to take Western Sydney to the world and the world to Western Sydney,” said Professor Williams.
“The Indian Education Minister has called for Australian universities to establish campuses in India to strengthen bilateral ties and provide more educational opportunities. We share this ambition.
“Our state-of-the-art campus will deliver world-class teaching, research, and innovation, with an initial focus on business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It will also build on the University’s long-standing collaborations in areas such as food and water security and emerging sectors including Ag-Tech.
“We value our strong working relationship with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Greater Noida Authority, and we look forward to having a presence in India in the months ahead.”
The India campus builds on Western Sydney University’s global presence, including its long-established partnership with UEH University in Vietnam, and its new Surabaya campus in Indonesia. The campus forms part of the University’s international network under its ‘One University’ model, offering seamless cross-campus mobility, industry internships and placements, research, start-up incubation, and cross border commercialisation.
Designed to offer an inclusive and vibrant student experience, the India campus will also foster strong partnerships with local institutions, industry, and the community, while supporting the Indian Government’s goals for socio-economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development.
Minister Clare and the Vice-Chancellor were also hosted by Western Sydney University Vietnam in an event highlighting the strong transnational partnership between Western Sydney University and UEH and showcasing the impact of Australian education in Vietnam. Minister Clare and distinguished representatives from the Department of Education, the Australian Embassy, and the Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City joined students, alumni, UEH academics and senior leaders at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH).
Dr Douglas Foster Provost Vietnam reflected on the strength of the academic partnership between the University and UEH, the quality of our programs, and the shared commitment to developing globally capable graduates.
“This collaboration has delivered outstanding outcomes for more than a decade. To date, more than 3,000 students have successfully completed their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Vietnam, with an additional 500 graduates completing their degrees in Sydney. These results reflect the strength of our academic partnership, the quality of our programs, and the shared commitment to developing globally capable graduates,” said Dr Foster.
Western Sydney University being ranked number one in the world for an unprecedented fourth year in a row in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings, recognising the University’s global leadership and commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UEH students, alumni, and staff meeting with Professor Williams and Minister Clare
ENDS
15 December 2025
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