University of Western Australia opens first India campus in Mumbai’s Andheri East

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Western Australia Premier Roger Cook are smiles about bridging miles at the launch yesterday. Pics/Satej Shinde

Perth found a berth in Mumbai as the University of Western Australia (UWA), located in Perth, Australia, opened its first India campus in Andheri East. The UWA Mumbai will be located at Airport Road, Marol, and the first group of students will start this month at the UWA Mumbai campus. At the launch on Friday morning, marked by optimism and young energy, speakers made much of the India-Australia relationship, stating that the Mumbai campus will be followed by the opening of a UWA campus in Chennai next month.

The voices

Professor Amit Chakma, vice-chancellor, UWA, said, "This was a vision we were working towards for some time, and today that has become reality. Establishing a University anywhere is monumental. Overseas, though, that task becomes even more challenging. The UWA is bullish about a future in this country. India is one of the most dynamic countries in the world. We do not see this as a one-way relationship. We come here bringing our knowledge, but we also take back knowledge to Australia."

The Aussie leadership imbibe the power of the Divine at the launch

Roger Cook, MLA, premier of Western Australia, stated, "The UWA, a Global Top 100 university and founding member of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight (Go8), is the first of the Group of Eight to establish itself in India."

Professor Diane Smith-Gander AO, chancellor of UWA, said as an "UWA alumnus, I know the power it has, and the doors it can open. We are confident of the future of India-Australia partnership."

The UWA speakers said in response to questions in the interactive session and on the sidelines that the UWA will have the exact same standards that it does in Australia. It will have faculty here drawn from international searches and recruitments.

[popcorn number="AUD 80 mn" desc="Amount committed to establish UWA campuses in India" class="Default"]

FadnavisSpeak

Professor Amit Chakma, Premier Roger Cook, and Professor Diane Smith-Gander at the announcement

Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis said at the launch event, "Mumbai is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. I am delighted that Mumbai has been chosen and this choice says something about the importance of Mumbai today." The CM spoke about building Mumbai 3.0, "next to where Mumbai stands currently, which will be futuristic, sustainable and an education city, medical city. We will have new centres of research and enterprise. World-class talent must create industries of the future. Indian students travelled overseas for education; today, those Universities are coming here," signed off the CM, indicating a ‘reversal' in what should be a watershed moment for the Indian academic landscape.

The presence

. UWA has committed around AUD 80 million to establishing and operating its wholly owned campuses in India, underscoring its commitment and ambition to build a permanent presence.

. UWA Mumbai will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across business, technology and STEM. Programmes will include Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Business Management and an MBA, with the MBA commencing in November 2026.