Payyazhi Vadakkekara Jayashree appointed Rector of UNSW Bengaluru

The award-winning global educator and leadership scholar is to lead the landmark India campus, a cornerstone of UNSW's Progress for All strategy.

UNSW Sydney has announced the appointment of Professor Payyazhi Vadakkekara Jayashree as the Rector of UNSW Bengaluru, the India campus set to open in August 2026.

Professor Payyazhi’s appointment brings internationally recognised expertise in transnational education at a defining moment in UNSW Bengaluru’s development. It reinforces UNSW’s ambition to build a world-class campus for education, innovation, talent development, research collaboration and industry engagement in one of the world’s fastest-growing knowledge economies.

Professor Payyazhi brings more than two decades of transformative academic leadership to the role, with extensive experience across transnational education, academic governance and international branch campus operations. Throughout her career, Professor Payyazhi has played an important role in strengthening academic standards, regulatory compliance and collaboration between home and offshore campuses. She also brings with her a deep familiarity with the Indian higher education landscape through her academic training, sector engagement and first-hand understanding of the opportunities and complexities shaping transnational education in India.

Most recently serving as Dean and Full Professor of Management at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), she led academic strategy, accreditation, curriculum development and quality assurance within an Australian university operating across multiple jurisdictions, while also contributing to the strategic growth of academic operations in the region.

A recipient of multiple teaching excellence awards, Professor Payyazhi Jayashree is internationally recognised for her work in Women in Leadership, Strategic Change and Business Transformation. Her applied research and thought leadership are shaped by cross-sector partnerships spanning academia, industry, government, and the development sector across India, the UAE, Australia, and the wider region.

Reflecting on her new role and return to India after an extensive career in transnational higher education leadership, Professor Payyazhi said: “Joining UNSW Bengaluru at this defining moment is both a privilege and a profound opportunity to help shape the next generation of globally minded learners and leaders. India is home to extraordinary ambition, talent and creativity, and UNSW Bengaluru, as part of a global top 20, Group of Eight university, will be a place where students can access a world-class education that is industry-connected and grounded in real-world impact. I look forward to building a campus culture centred on inclusion, innovation and excellence, one that truly reflects the spirit of UNSW’s Progress for All strategy.”

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Sarah Maddison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience), UNSW Sydney said: “Professor Payyazhi’s appointment reflects UNSW’s ambition to build a truly collaborative and future-focused education ecosystem in India, one that brings together world-class academic excellence aligned with the priorities of the government, industry and society to create meaningful and lasting impact. Her strong track record in inclusive leadership, transnational education and industry engagement, combined with her deep understanding of both global and Indian education landscapes, makes her exceptionally well placed to lead UNSW Bengaluru. We are very excited to have Professor Payyazhi join the team.”

This appointment further reinforces UNSW’s long-term commitment to building meaningful and enduring partnerships in India across education, research, industry and innovation. Working closely with UNSW’s senior leadership team, Professor Payyazhi will lead all aspects of the Bengaluru campus establishment, including academic delivery, industry collaboration, student experience and research engagement. She will also champion a culture of inclusive and purpose-led leadership - values that have defined her own career and are central to UNSW.

Professor Payyazhi will officially commence as Rector of UNSW Bengaluru in July 2026.