Deepening India Ties at the Heart of UWA’s Indo–Pacific Vision

5 December 2025, India — The University of Western Australia (UWA) is accelerating its long-term commitment to India and the Indo–Pacific, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma leading a significant multi-city mission from 3–13 December 2025. Invited as part of the official delegation headed by Australia’s Minister for Education, the Honourable Jason Clare, the visit reinforces UWA’s strategic intent to be one of India’s most engaged and trusted academic partners.

Professor Chakma’s mission signals a defining moment in Australia–India education cooperation, as UWA prepares to become the first Australian Group of Eight (Go8) university to establish a physical academic presence in India. The upcoming campuses in Mumbai and Chennai, now finalised, have been strategically selected for their strong industry linkages, talent hubs and innovation ecosystems—reflecting UWA’s commitment to being embedded where India’s economic and technological growth is taking shape.

“India is central to the future of the Indo–Pacific, and UWA is deeply committed to being an active contributor to this moment of historic opportunity. Our new campuses and partnerships reflect a long-term vision: to collaborate with India on the skills, research and innovations that will shape the next century. We are not just expanding our presence - we are building shared pathways for talent, discovery and impact across both our nations.” - Professor Amit Chakma, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Western Australia

Strengthening On-Ground Capabilities in India

To lead this next phase of growth, UWA has appointed Mr. David Das as COO, UWA India Branch Campus. With extensive cross-sector leadership experience, Mr Das will steer the establishment and operational readiness of UWA’s campuses, while an expanded India-based team will drive partnerships, student engagement and academic program development.

Major Announcements to Advance Education, Research and Industry Collaboration

During the visit, UWA will unveil a series of high-impact initiatives that support India’s national priorities across skills, innovation, healthcare, minerals, sports science and education access:

• Landmark MoUs with IIM Mumbai and IIT/ISM Dhanbad, unlocking new collaboration in mining, logistics, automation and sustainability. These partnerships have been facilitated with the support of Honourable Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
• India–Australia Critical Minerals Capability Initiative, delivering micro-credentials with the Skill Council for Mining Sector and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to advance India’s clean energy transition.
• A National Sports Immersion Program, spanning three cities and anchored by a cutting-edge sports science hub at UWA Chennai, in partnership with Avid Sports and the Chennai Bulls.
• Innovation pathways with HCLTech and the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce (IACC), including a 2026 Innovation Hackathon and co-developed micro-credentials in AI and Cybersecurity.
• Launch of the UWA India Centre in Visakhapatnam, developed with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, AMTZ, Andhra University and GITAM University. The Centre will serve as a catalyst for MedTech innovation, applied research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Inclusive Education Scholarships, designed to open pathways for underrepresented and disadvantaged students across India. These scholarships will be available for programs delivered at UWA’s India campuses, underscoring UWA’s commitment to equity and opportunity.

A Defining Indo–Pacific Engagement

This delegation marks one of the most comprehensive international engagements undertaken by an Australian university. With deep institutional partnerships, future-ready programs and a long-term commitment to India’s knowledge economy, UWA is positioning itself as a key Indo–Pacific collaborator - driving shared growth across education, research, skills and innovation.