In a significant step forward in the University of Melbourne’s engagement with India, several academics from the Faculty of Education have been awarded Global Centre Activity Grants.
These grants are awarded in anticipation of the upcoming launch of the Melbourne Global Centre in Delhi, slated for September 2024.
This new Centre marks a major milestone for the University, serving as a hub for academic, community, and industry collaborations in India.
These grants will fund a range of initiatives at the Centre, with a strong focus on education. Planned activities include seminars, roundtables, research symposia, and community engagement events, all designed to strengthen ties between the University and its Indian partners.
Assoc. Prof. Kate Coleman and Dr Sarah Healy will spearhead the “Hacking the Anthropocene” initiative, engaging young people and educators in New Delhi through hackathons at the Global Centre.
In collaboration with partners such as the Science Gallery Network, Socratus, and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), their Speculative Wanderings in Space and Place (SWISP) Lab will conduct hackathons for over 60 youth aged 14-25 from northern communities, along with a full-day event for 30+ teachers and alumni.
Prof. Jan van Driel’s project will tackle global challenges in STEM education for primary and secondary schools, emphasising real-world problems and 21st-century skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. The initiative includes a roundtable with 20-25 participants from government, industry, schools, and universities, focusing on opportunities for collaboration in curriculum design, pedagogy, and teacher training.
Dr Donnie Adams will lead the Australia-India Leadership Roundtable (AILEAD 2024), bringing together 25 top academics from Australia and India to discuss “Leadership for Sustainable Educational Development.” This event will feature representatives from prestigious Indian institutions such as NCERT and Mahindra University. It aims to address key challenges in educational leadership through research sharing, skill development, and networking among scholars dedicated to sustainable education.
In a statement the University of Melbourne said that the academics involved are eager to lead innovative and collaborative teaching and learning programs, fostering mutual learning and cultural exchange.
Deputy Dean, Prof. Lindsay Oades, highlighted the importance of expanding research and teaching efforts in India, calling it “exciting” and “hugely important to anyone who cares about education equity.” He noted that India, with its rich intellectual history and large diaspora in Australia, presents a “huge opportunity to contribute to education,” particularly with the recent addition of three years of formal education under India’s National Education Policy.
Prof. Oades emphasised that the Melbourne Global Centre Delhi would be a crucial gateway for the Faculty, enabling staff and students to consolidate existing partnerships and maintain a continuous presence in India.
While the University of Melbourne, part of Australia’s Group of Eight leading research-intensive universities, will not be establishing a campus in India, Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell has last year confirmed that the University will maintain a physical presence through this Delhi-based global hub.
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