The University of Southern Queensland visits India to advance academic and research excellence
In its quest for internationalization through collaborations, The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) a World Top 350 University*, visited India with the intent to forge new partnerships and collaboration opportunities for strengthening academic and research programs and create new opportunities for collaboration with leading Indian universities, research institutions, and industry stakeholders.
The delegation, led by UniSQ Chancellor Mr John Dornbusch, is actively seeking to identify and engage with like-minded organizations that share their commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and social impact. They aim to establish long-term affiliations that will drive forward new initiatives and facilitate knowledge exchange, while promoting cultural understanding, corresponding to the National Education Policy’s (NEP 2020) vision of internationalizing India’s higher education sector and strengthening its long-standing links with India.
Commenting on the visit Mr. Abhinav Bhatia, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner-South Asia at Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) said, “The education, research, and trade relationship between Australia and India are based on shared values and are complementary in nature. The University of Southern Queensland’s senior leadership visit speaks for the university’s commitment and vision for India. It is exciting to see the kind of work UniSQ is doing via their existing partnerships with Indian institutes, industry partners, and the new collaborations they intend to develop. It is our endeavor at Study Queensland (govt.) to support such initiatives that expose Indian students to the best of education and career development opportunities, in addition to multicultural communities, and the admirable lifestyle Queensland has to offer.”
Over the past few years, Queensland has been the hub for the world’s leading education providers for students from across the globe. It is a place that duly nurtures talent, leads innovation, and builds global careers. Study Queensland, supported by the Queensland Government, is committed to attracting talent to its world-class education and training institutes. Furthering the same thought, Mr. Bhatia adds, “India and Australia have recently signed an interim Free Trade Agreement, and I believe student mobility and educational ties will become the backbone of deeper relationship between the two countries.”
“India is a vibrant and rapidly growing economy, with a rich and diverse culture and a long history of intellectual and scientific achievements. We are excited to explore new opportunities for collaboration and exchange with Indian institutions that will help drive forward our shared objectives of excellence in education and research along with the promotion of social justice and sustainable development.” said Professor Ren Yi, UniSQ Pro Vice-Chancellor (International).
As part of its visit, the University is particularly interested in partnering with Indian universities and research institutions that have strengths in a range of fields, including agriculture, engineering, health sciences, and sports psychology to support joint research and publication opportunities and expand Cotutelle PhD partners. The University also seeks collaborators in a host of specialized areas such as climate change and materials engineering.
Commenting on the visit Mr Dornbusch said, “UniSQ has a rich history of involvement in India, thanks to the Australia-India Strategic Research Grants and Australia-India Council Grants program, that have provided valuable support. Establishing a robust research partnership between Australia and India is a fundamental aspect of UniSQ’s strategy.”
The University already has established successful partnerships with esteemed Indian higher education institutions such as Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the SRM Institute of Science and Technology. However, there is a strong desire to cultivate further ties and foster new connections that will not only strengthen these existing relationships but also create a pathway to fresh avenues for collaboration.
Mr Dornbusch further added, “We are committed to further enhancing our strong and enduring relationships with Indian institutions that share our values of academic excellence, innovation, and social impact. We look forward to exploring new opportunities for collaboration and exchange with our Indian counterparts and working together to enable significant progress in key areas of mutual concern.”
The University’s ambition is to create opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers to work with leading corporations and organisations in India, building interdisciplinary connections and furthering their career prospects. “By working with leading companies in India, our students and faculty can engage in cutting-edge research and development projects that will holistically impact the society. We believe that this approach will allow us to create new pathways for Indian students to study in Queensland and strengthen our position as a world leader in research and innovation.” said Professor Ren Yi.
The cross-border collaborations to study in Queensland are supported by Study Queensland – the specialist on international education and training (IET) unit of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), South Asia. It is a State Government organization dedicated to promoting Queensland as a premier study destination and a preferred partner for education, training research, and innovation.