UNSW strengthens ties with India

31 October 2006

UNSW is strengthening its engagement with India, becoming the first Australian university to establish a company dedicated to developing commercial and research partnerships and student and staff exchange with India.

The Acting Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr David Holly, opened UNSW offices in New Delhi and Mumbai on Monday 30 October to mark the launch of NewSouth Global India Private Limited, the University’s company on the ground.

“UNSW has a long history of engagement with India and the region,” says Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Richard Henry. “As the first Australian university to establish a company in India we are recognising and working to build on that strong relationship.”

As India moves to become one of the leading world economies UNSW is committed to recruiting the best and the brightest students, says Professor Henry.

“The new offices in India will also support existing and future in-country business activities, capacity building and related projects. A permanent presence in India will allow us to take on a much larger commercial role than our counterparts.”

The offices in New Delhi and Mumbai will also assist alumni development and support undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment to UNSW Sydney and the new UNSW Asia campus opening in Singapore in March 2007.

The official launch of the company in India and its two offices also marked the launch of a new NewSouth Global scholarship for the top Indian student in the International Assessments for Schools program run by UNSW and Macmillan India.

“The scholarship will provide full tuition fees for the successful student who will join the growing number of Indian students attending UNSW, Australia’s leading international University,” says Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) Jennie Lang.

“Since the first cohort arrived under the Colombo Plan in the 1950s and 60s, Indian students have continued to choose UNSW to further their studies.”

NewSouth Global (NSG), the international education, training and consultancy arm of UNSW is responsible for establishing UNSW’s company and permanent presence in India. NSG supports the international initiatives and activities of the University. It currently manages UNSW offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi and Hong Kong and is looking at the viability of establishing a formal presence in Beijing in the near future.

Guests at the launch included alumni, prominent business partners, academic and research colleagues and government officials.

For general media queries and to request interviews contact: Judy Brookman, UNSW Director of Communications (m) + 61 421 061 251, j.brookman@unsw.edu.au