Gold Coast’s Bond University sees surge in Indian students
More Indian students than ever before are choosing to study on Australia’s Gold Coast.
In the past year, the Gold Coast’s Bond University has seen a 20 per cent increase in Indian student numbers, particularly in its undergraduate programs.
Bond University International Regional Manager (Future Students), Mr Rajiv Chadda, says the University’s biggest advocates are its alumni.
“Two of our biggest recruiters in India are Bond alumni,” says Mr Chadda. “They are reaching right through South Asia to Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even into Bhutan.”
Bond University has more than 600 Indian alumni, including nearly 340 who are still living there. Bond has also collaborated on 15 research projects with Indian institutions in the past five years.
DY Patil University President, Mr Vijay Patil, along with Knight Frank India Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Shishir Baijal, and Indian-born businessman and philanthropist Dr Basil Sellers AM, are some of Bond’s most notable Indian alumni.
On February 17, 2018, Dr Sellers was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Bond in recognition of his significant charity work, sports and corporate development.
It is the second honour the University has bestowed on Dr Sellers, with its state-of-the-art Basil Sellers Theatre recognising his numerous contributions to the community.
Master of Project Management (Professional) graduate, Jamal Bajwaji Abdul Rahim, says Bond gave him the chance to travel to Japan with highly regarded Australian business leader Professor Alan Patching.
“It was an amazing learning experience,” says Jamal. “We met with board members of a very high-profile funds and asset management organisation, and learned from mentors with extensive project management and general business experience across several fields.
“Educational outcomes from the study tour have exposed me to new cultures, technologies, techniques and management styles.”
Bachelor of Communication graduate Nidhi Dutt, who is now a correspondent with the Al Jazeera news service, says Bond stood out for him because of the range of practical experience offered within courses.
“Bond University gave me an edge over other graduates,” he says. “The practical experience I was encouraged to gain through course-work and internships has been invaluable – not just in finding a job, but in giving me the confidence to develop faster as a full-time field reporter.”
Bond University International Future Students Director, Ms Lisa Cowan, says the growth in the Indian market has been in the undergraduate space, complementing already strong post-graduate offerings.
“The Indian market is all about the outcome; getting a job at the end of a degree,” she says. “That’s something we pride ourselves on at Bond.”
“Our Career Development Centre is such a unique asset that treats international students exactly the same as domestic students. They get assistance with everything from a part-time job through to post-graduation positions.
”We are even reaching into select high schools in India and talking to Year 10, 11 and 12 about what it would like to be at Bond and starting them thinking about entrepreneurship.”
Bond University Alumni and Development Director, Mr Brett Walker, says Bond has continued to attract outstanding and dynamic Indian students since its inception.
“Some have gone on to be very successful in the fields of education, real estate and family business,” he says.
“We formed alumni committees in India last year and look forward to welcoming past graduates and future students to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and our campus.”
Other prominent Indian alumni include:
Trishna Gurung, Director, Marketing Communications, World Wildlife Fund, New York
Sartaj Gill, Partner Davis Polk
Ravi Singh, Founder Global Reach
Rahul Todi, Founder, Brijlaxmi Paper Products