The University of Wollongong (UOW) has opened its India campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, heralding a new chapter of world-class education for Indian students.
The campus commenced classes this week, offering programmes including the Master of Financial Technology, Master of Financial Technology (Extension), and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, celebrated the occasion on social media, calling it a “historic milestone for Australia-India education cooperation,” noting UOW is only the second foreign university to open a campus in India.
In May, Nimay Kalyani, originally from Gujarat and now based in Australia since 2010, was been named Campus Director of UOW India. Previously serving as Project Director for establishing the GIFT City campus, Nimay brings valuable expertise to his new role. UOW warmly welcomes him to this position.
At the inauguration, UOW announced a strategic partnership with Odoo, an open-source business software suite, ensuring students gain industry-relevant skills in areas like CRM, accounting, and eCommerce.
This collaboration adds to UOW’s global network of industry partners, which already includes IBM ICE, offering expertise in artificial intelligence, big data, and blockchain.
Speaking at the event, UOW Chancellor Michael Still called the new campus a significant milestone:
“India has been a beacon of knowledge for centuries, and this campus allows us to build meaningful connections and create opportunities for students and communities.”
Marisa Mastroianni, Managing Director and Group CEO at UOW Global Enterprises, emphasised the convenience for Indian students:
“They no longer need to travel abroad for Australia’s renowned education. Students at GIFT City will experience the same high standards as our campuses in Dubai, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. To enhance this, our first cohort will enjoy a fully funded trip to our Dubai campus.”
The inauguration was attended by dignitaries from academia, industry, and government, including Rebecca McPhee, Deputy Secretary of Investment NSW, who highlighted the strong NSW-Gujarat ties under the 2015 sister-state agreement.
Cerin Elsa Joji was named the inaugural recipient of the Women Leaders in FinTech Scholarship, reflecting UOW’s commitment to advancing female participation in technology.
This development follows the July launch of Deakin University’s campus in the same city, underlining GIFT City’s emergence as a hub for global education.
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