Indian University Founders and Vice Chancellors Mission to Australia finds new pathways for collaboration

Indian university founders and vice chancellors from leading private institutions met with Australian education and policy stakeholders on the sidelines of the Universities Australia Solutions Summit in February.

The mission travelled to Sydney, Canberra, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, visiting major universities and taking part in roundtables, panels and summits to deepen collaboration across the Australia–India higher education corridor.

A fast-growing education market

Education remains one of the central pillars of the bilateral relationship. India’s higher education sector is rapidly expanding, with more than 53 million students currently enrolled and an estimated 155 million people aged between 18 and 23 forming the world’s largest higher-education age cohort. 

India is also the world’s largest source of globally mobile students, with about 760,000 students studying overseas each year.

The mission included founders and vice chancellors from institutions in India’s private and deemed-to-be university sector. This sector is one of the fastest-growing segments of India’s higher education ecosystem, now accounting for about 65 per cent of higher education enrolments. 

Collectively, delegates represented institutions that have more than 300,000 students enrolled across their campuses. The mission focused on institutions with internationalisation ambitions that currently have a limited partnership footprint with Australia.

The Indian University Founders and Vice Chancellors Mission to Australia strengthening education partnerships between the two Countries

Collaborating on academic outcomes

The mission explored new forms of institutional engagement beyond traditional student mobility, particularly in transnational education (TNE), joint degrees, research collaboration and industry-academia partnerships. 

Vik Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, says the two countries have similar outlooks for students. “India and Australia share a strong commitment to preparing graduates for an increasingly interconnected global workforce,” he says.

“This mission reflects the growing ambition on both sides to move beyond traditional student mobility towards deeper institutional partnerships, including transnational education, dual program delivery and research collaboration aligned with emerging industry needs.”

The Universities Australia Solutions Summit explored opportunities for Australia and India to deepen partnerships across education, innovation and workforce development. Complementing the summit, the QS–Austrade India Showcase at the University of Queensland focused on the theme “From Degree to Employment,” examining how universities can better align academic programs with rapidly evolving global workforce requirements.

Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director for India, Middle East and Africa at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, highlighted the significance of the moment saying, “India’s higher education sector is entering a new phase of international engagement, supported by reforms under the National Education Policy.”

“Australian institutions are well positioned to collaborate with Indian universities on joint programs, research initiatives and transnational education models that deliver strong outcomes for students and industry.”

Opportunities to build education ties

As both countries continue to prioritise education within the broader economic partnership, the Australia–India Founders and Vice Chancellors Mission established new channels of collaboration and laid the groundwork for long-term engagement across research, skills development and transnational education.