Deakin University celebrates 20 years in India

Deakin University has marked 20 historic years in India by announcing it will expand its operations into South Asia.

Speaking last night at a ceremony at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi held to recognise Deakin's two-decade journey in India, Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said the move would strengthen the University's profile and enrolment share from countries within the region including Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan and Mauritius.

"In 1994, Deakin stepped into India as a joint venture with the Australian Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers to offer management programs through distance learning," Professor den Hollander said.

"Two years later Deakin became the first university in the world to set up an office in India.

"Tonight, we are here with the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Patrick Suckling, to acknowledge Deakin's staff, academic collaborators and industry partners who have contributed to what has become a unique example of cross-nation collaboration.

"It is a great honour to be leading a delegation to India and have our 20-year journey in this wonderful country, a rising rapidly-growing power, recognised in such a way.

"Our India Office is one of the jewels in the crown of our growth and success over the 40 years of Deakin's existence from humble beginnings on a green field site at Waurn Ponds in 1974.

"Back in 1893, Alfred Deakin – the Australian Prime Minister for whom our university is named – predicted that students from Australia and India would traverse international borders and form lasting intellectual partnerships.

"Today, less than a week after celebrating the great Indian festival of Diwali at our Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong, I am proud to say we have achieved so much more than that.

"The early focus was on student enrolments but the relationship has evolved to include partnerships with some of India's leading universities, research institutions and businesses.

"Over two decades, Deakin has committed over AUD$10 million to research initiatives in India, with 20 strategic academic partners, 20 research partners and 15 corporate partnerships. 

"Just under 50,000 students now study at Deakin, including almost 8,000 international students from 127 countries, including 1,150 students from India.

"We are also proud to be in the top three per cent of universities across all three of the major international university ranking systems – the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities, Times Higher Education World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings.

"At this time of growth, I am thrilled to announce the expansion of our India operations to South Asia."

Professor den Hollander said one of the great milestones of the 20-year journey, alongside the education of many hundreds of Indian students in Australia, is the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), created to help to bridge the innovation gap between academia and industry.

Under the DIRI model, higher degree by research (HDR) candidates are based at an Indian research institution with day-to-day supervision provided by a local researcher. A Deakin academic staff member serves as principal supervisor for the project, and the candidate visits Australia for around six months to conduct research.

"Deakin is acknowledged for its research in advanced materials, nanotechnology, life sciences and health, so it has been a great privilege to collaborate with India on research which is helping to develop solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems," Professor den Hollander said.

"Our 2014 Governor of Victoria Export Award for Education and Training was testament to the quality of Deakin's international research and education, notably in India and with Indian institutions."

Professor den Hollander said some of the highlights of Deakin's time in India included:

• Semester abroad programs, research exchanges, internships, mobility and in-country capacity building programs in areas such as Education Leadership and Sports Management.

• Teaching and learning partnerships in India with leading Indian academic institutions including VIT University, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IIS), Symbiosis International University, University of Mumbai, Hyderabad University and Amity University.

• Key research collaborations include those with the Rajasthan Royals, Reliance Life Sciences, Bharat Forge and the, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology.

• Establishing the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Research Centre, a $10 million institution that brings together Deakin's cutting edge expertise in nanomaterials and The Energy Resource Institute of India's extensive biotech experience.

• In a first for India and in partnership with the Tamana School of Hope in New Delhi, delivering the revolutionary TOBY (Therapy Outcomes By You) Playpad, an interactive iPad application developed by Deakin researchers to dramatically improve the way parents interact with their autistic children.

"In a year when we celebrate 40 years of our existence in Australia, we want to thank our  partners, supporters, alumni, staff and organisations who have made our 20 years in India so productive, enjoyable and above all, enduring for the education of the generations yet to come," Professor den Hollander said.

"The story of Deakin in India has been one of collaboration, friendship and strategic partnerships that transcend geographical borders to create a vibrant culture of research excellence. As we look to the future, it is time to celebrate that journey."

Link to photos of Diwali 2014 at Deakin's Waurn Ponds Campus: http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/downloads/deakin-diwali-14.zip