University of Western Australia receives UGC approval for Chennai campus

The University of Western Australia has received final UGC approval for its Chennai branch campus. The move makes it the first Australian university in Tamil Nadu and expands its presence in India.

In Short

• The Chennai campus follows UWA Mumbai, opened the previous month
• Orientation began immediately, with classes for the first batch from October 19
• Scholarships were offered as the university prepared to welcome incoming students

In Chennai, a new chapter for India began in higher education. The University of Western Australia, known as UWA, had received final approval from India’s University Grants Commission to open its international branch campus there.

UWA became the first foreign higher education provider in Tamil Nadu to receive approval in Chennai. It was also the first Australian university, and the first Group of Eight institution, to receive UGC approval for a campus there.

The new campus was part of UWA’s eighty-million-dollar commitment to wholly owned campuses in India. It followed the opening of UWA Mumbai the month before. UWA India thus became the first foreign university to launch two campuses at the same time in India.

The first students were preparing for classes. Their orientation was to commence that day, and classes were due to begin on October 19. Scholarships were offered.

The campus had been planned for a city known for technology, engineering, manufacturing, and innovation. Its first courses would be in data science, artificial intelligence, information technology, business, and economics.

Undergraduate courses included Business Management, Computer Science, Data Science, and Advanced Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence. Postgraduate students could study for a Master of Information Technology or an MBA.

Professor Amit Chakma, UWA’s Vice-Chancellor, said the approval allowed the university to welcome students. He spoke of connecting them with UWA’s academic and industry networks.

Roger Cook, Premier of Western Australia, welcomed the connection between Western Australia and Tamil Nadu. He noted the shared strengths of both regions in education, skills, technology, and industry.

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay, welcomed UWA to Chennai. He said the university would give students access to an internationally recognised education and strengthen ties between Tamil Nadu and Western Australia.

Dr Diane Smith-Gander, UWA’s Chancellor, called Chennai an important addition to the university’s presence in India.

In October, the first students would enter the Chennai campus. They would begin their studies while joining a university whose engagement with India had lasted more than a century. The doors of UWA Chennai were open, and a new connection between India and Australia was beginning.

- Ends