UWA Launches First India Campus; 'We Want Mumbai To Become One Of World's Great Centres Of Knowledge, Innovation': CM Devendra Fadnavis
· Free Press Journal
Mumbai: The University of Western Australia (UWA), a member of Australia's Group of Eight (Go8), officially launched its international campus in Mumbai on Thursday, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. CM highlighting the city's growing role as a centre for knowledge and innovation and Western Australian Premier Roger Cook pointing to opportunities for skilled Indian professionals in sectors driving his state's economy.
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Welcoming UWA to Mumbai, Fadnavis said the decision to establish the first Indian campus of an Australian Go8 university in the city reflected Mumbai's economic significance. He said the city's position as India's financial, commercial and entertainment capital must now be complemented by a stronger focus on knowledge, innovation, technology and talent.
“We want Mumbai to become one of the world's great centres of knowledge, innovation, technology and talent,” Fadnavis said.
Mumbai 3.0 vision
CM Devendra Fadnavis said, UWA campus could become part of Mumbai's broader transformation under the Mumbai 3.0 vision, which he described as an opportunity to build a futuristic, functional and sustainable city with an educational ecosystem, innovation facilities, global capability centres, research and enterprise hubs.
Fadnavis linked the UWA campus to the state's larger strategy of bringing global institutions into Maharashtra while connecting them with India's growing talent and industrial base.
“World-class infrastructure must attract world-class institutions. World-class institutions must attract world-class talent and world-class talent must create the industries of the future,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 had opened the way for deeper international academic collaboration, allowing global universities to establish a stronger presence in India.
UWA Campus to connect education with industry & research
Against this backdrop, Fadnavis said UWA's presence should extend beyond classroom education. He called for the Mumbai campus to develop research and innovation collaborations in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare, critical minerals, clean energy, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.
The focus on industry-linked education was also reflected in UWA's plans for the Mumbai campus. Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said the university wanted its Indian presence to create a two-way knowledge and innovation corridor between India and Australia.
UWA said students in India would receive the same globally recognised UWA degree as students in Perth, while also gaining opportunities for internships, mentorship, applied learning and industry projects.
The university has committed approximately AUD 80 million towards establishing and operating its wholly owned campuses in India. The Mumbai campus, located in Andheri East, is set to welcome its first cohort this month, while a second campus in Chennai is scheduled to begin operations in October 2026.
Roger Cook links Mumbai Campus To Western Australia's Skills Demand
For Western Australia, the Mumbai campus also has a direct connection with the state's growing demand for skilled professionals.
Premier Roger Cook said the launch marked an important development in Western Australia's relationship with India and described international education as a means of strengthening both economic and people-to-people ties.
He said UWA's Mumbai presence would give Indian students access to an Australian university education while creating stronger connections with businesses and institutions in both countries.
The university will initially offer programmes in areas including computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, information technology and business management.
Cook also pointed to the workforce opportunities emerging from Western Australia's expanding economy.
Roger Cook About Skills Western Australia Needs From India
During the press conference, The Free Press Journal asked Cook what specific skills Western Australia was seeking from India and how UWA's Mumbai campus could contribute to those workforce and economic links.
Cook said Western Australia was experiencing growth across critical minerals, resources and energy, creating demand for skilled workers.
“We have a growing workforce, particularly in the energy sector, electrical engineering and so on,” Cook said.
He added that Western Australia saw an opportunity to access the capabilities of Indian professionals interested in working in the state.
“We see an opportunity to access the skills and capabilities of people who want to come and work in Western Australia, either temporarily or permanently,” he said.
This connects directly with UWA's academic plans in India, where programmes in technology, engineering-related fields and business are intended to prepare students for industries in both countries.
UWA Mumbai And Chennai Campuses Target 10,000 Students
Chakma said UWA's 10-year plan envisages at least 10,000 students across its Mumbai and Chennai campuses.
The university said its India programmes would span business, technology and STEM disciplines, with the initial academic offering involving its School of Business and School of Computer Science.
The programmes include Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Business Management and MBA.
The 12-month accelerated MBA is scheduled to begin in November 2026 and will cover strategy, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, data-driven decision-making and international management.
UWA officials said the university plans to seek UGC approval for additional programmes as its India operations expand.
AUD 80 Million Investment, Scholarships And Industry Links
UWA Chancellor Dr Diane Smith-Gander AO said the university had committed around AUD 80 million to its India operations. She said the initiative had already created around 100 jobs in India, with further employment expected across the wider ecosystem.
The university has also announced 140 scholarships and bursaries, including three full scholarships jointly supported by the Maharashtra government and UWA. UWA also announced a Global Engagement Alliance with Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
Students To Get India-Australia Mobility Opportunities
The university also outlined plans to facilitate movement between its Indian campuses and its Crawley campus in Western Australia.
Chakma said Indian students would have opportunities to spend six or 12 months at the Crawley campus, while Australian students could travel to India for academic and cultural experiences.
UWA To Offer Short-Term Programmes For Working Professionals
Beyond degree programmes, UWA plans to introduce short-term learning through its Global Leadership Lab, including face-to-face masterclasses and programmes of up to six weeks in online, hybrid and in-person formats.
The programmes will focus on areas such as leadership development and artificial intelligence and are aimed at working professionals seeking reskilling and specialised learning opportunities.
The Mumbai launch marks UWA's first teaching and learning presence outside Australia, with its Chennai campus expected to follow in October. Fadnavis described the launch as the beginning of a broader Maharashtra-Western Australia partnership, while UWA said it intends to build its India presence through education, research, industry collaboration and student mobility.