Latest news with #JenniferWestacottAC
News18
31-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Western Sydney University To Open Campus In Greater Noida By 2026, Check Courses Offered
Western Sydney University has received approval from UGC to set up its india campus. The campus will offer ug and pg courses in Business, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Western Sydney University (WSU) has received formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up a foreign branch campus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The campus is scheduled to begin operations in August 2026, making it one of the first foreign universities to establish a full-fledged presence in India under the revised UGC regulations. As per the announcement made during the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2025 in New Delhi, the India campus will initially offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Business, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Over time, the university plans to expand offerings to include programmes in Data Science and core Science disciplines, with a growing emphasis on agriculture to align with India's national priorities. The launch was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other key policymakers from the Centre and States, along with senior leaders from the Indian and global higher education ecosystem. The Greater Noida campus will also house Launch Pad, WSU's award-winning business incubator that provides startup mentorship, entrepreneurial training, and research commercialisation opportunities. With a proven global track record of supporting over 1,000 startups and SMEs, the initiative is expected to boost India's innovation and entrepreneurship landscape, particularly among youth and first-time entrepreneurs. 'Our India campus reflects a deep strategic commitment to partner with India on education, skills, and sustainable innovation," said Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, Chancellor of Western Sydney University. 'We are committed to aligning with India's economic goals and bridging skills gaps through research-led, industry-connected learning," she added. Long-Standing India Ties And Collaborations WSU has had a longstanding academic engagement with India, with partnerships involving over 30 State Agricultural Universities, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), IITs, IISc, NABARD, and ICICI Bank. These collaborations have resulted in dual-degree programmes, skilling initiatives for students and scientists, and research centres. Notable projects include: A Centre of Excellence in Hi-Tech Protected Cropping with ICAR The Australia-India Water Centre, which has trained 5,000 farmers A nationwide AUD 13 million pollination project concluded in 2023 Research collaborations in wastewater recycling and agri-entrepreneurship incubation Currently, Indian students represent 20% of WSU's international student body, with 1,300 studying across its Australian campuses. India remains one of its top three source markets. The India campus will be part of WSU's 'One University' model, offering students seamless mobility between international campuses, global internships, work-integrated learning, and cross-border startup and research opportunities. This aligns with the National Education Policy's vision of making India a global knowledge hub. Western Sydney University has also been ranked No. 1 in the world for the fourth consecutive year in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 (University Sustainability Rankings 2025), reflecting its strong commitment to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 'Transformational Opportunity For Indian Students" Vice-Chancellor and President Professor George Williams AO called the India expansion a 'transformational opportunity" for students and communities. 'This campus will open life-changing pathways for students while contributing to India's economic and social growth," she said. The university will continue to work with the Uttar Pradesh government, ICAR, IITs, and other stakeholders to expand its footprint in climate resilience, water quality, and agricultural innovation in India. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 31, 2025, 12:53 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Planting roots in Greater Noida, Western Sydney finds a second home in India
MUMBAI: It was more than just a ribbon-cutting moment—it was the sowing of seeds. With a nod from India's University Grants Commission, Western Sydney University (WSU) is now poised to establish its first international campus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, from August 2026. It's a move that's as strategic as it is symbolic, bringing to India the pedagogical heart of one of Australia's most forward-thinking institutions. But this isn't WSU's first footfall on Indian soil. For over two decades, the university has quietly and steadily nurtured a robust relationship with the country. Indian students—comprising 20% of its international cohort—have been a permanent thread in the university's multicultural tapestry. Currently, more than 1,300 Indians are enrolled across WSU's campuses in Australia, drawn to its industry-aligned, globally-accredited programs. Now, with the India campus, the bridge between the two nations just got shorter—and a lot more real. The campus will open its doors with undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, eventually growing into disciplines like Data Science and core Sciences. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Are Unstoppable: The Most Beautiful and Talented Female Athletes Undo But it's the promise of relevance that's most striking. With plans to embed agriculture-focused content into its curriculum, the university is looking beyond textbooks—straight into the heart of India's rural economy. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, Chancellor of WSU, calls it a 'major strategic commitment' that aligns global academic excellence with India's national priorities. 'We're not just expanding our footprint. We're partnering with India's vision,' she said. That vision includes delivering education that plugs into India's skill gaps, collaborates with industry, and catalyses community-led innovation. A signature addition to the Greater Noida campus is 'Launch Pad', WSU's globally recognised startup incubator that has already backed over 1,000 ventures in Australia. This isn't just a classroom with beanbags—it's a full-fledged business accelerator. Indian students will get hands-on training in entrepreneurship, from ideation to funding, with access to mentors, networks, and industry partners. It's an ecosystem designed to birth ideas and push them out into the world—confident, market-ready, and scalable. But this isn't a one-off relationship either. Over the years, WSU has built a quiet but formidable network across India: partnerships with 30 State Agricultural Universities, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), IITs, IISc, and even financial giants like NABARD and ICICI Bank. The university has trained 200 students and 150 scientists in the last two years alone, with collaborations ranging from dual degrees to agricultural research that touches 5,000 farmers through initiatives like the Australia-India Water Centre. Their joint Centre of Excellence in Hi-Tech Protected Cropping with ICAR isn't just a research lab—it's a statement on food security. Their AUD13 million nationwide pollination initiative? It's science at work in India's fields. This is not education for the sake of prestige; it's education meant to move the needle on the ground. Western Sydney University's arrival in India coincides with it being named the world's top university for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals—for the fourth year in a row. That isn't an accolade easily earned, nor easily sustained. At the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2025 in New Delhi, where the announcement was formally made, India's Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan stood alongside WSU leaders to underline a shared commitment. 'Education is not just about mobility, but about meaning,' said Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor George Williams AO. 'This campus will bring that meaning to life for thousands of Indian students. ' From climate resilience to wastewater recycling, from pollination to policy, WSU's India chapter is not just about education—it's about impact. And with the Greater Noida campus as its new epicentre, Western Sydney is no longer halfway across the world. It's right here.
Business Upturn
19-06-2025
- General
- Business Upturn
Western Sydney Beats the World Four Years in a Row for Community Impact
New Delhi, Delhi, India: For an unprecedented fourth year in a row, Western Sydney University has emerged as the world's number one university for community impact awarded by the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. The University outranked 2,300 international universities in the evaluation process. The University's deep-rooted commitment to improve lives and safeguard the planet through local and global initiatives is gaining huge recognition across markets. Spotlighting India's MARVI (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention) project – a collaboration between the University and its valued partners, the transformative community-led program has been commendable. The mission works on improving the security of irrigation water supplies and enhancing livelihood opportunities for rural communities. The project has reached over 3 lakh households in over 20,000 Indian villages across seven states in India. The University is also actively involved in educating and training NGOs, government agencies, and Indian water professionals working directly on the ground, as part of our commitment to delivering world-class education and supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, 'Our University is youthful, diverse, dynamic and entrepreneurial. We reflect our community locally and globally, and we are part of it. These rankings recognise the work we are doing together to take Western Sydney – and our wider global partnerships – to the next level. We can all be proud of this result. Our mission is to ensure our students are successful, our teaching and research have impact, and we are contributing to stronger communities.' Highlighting the University's impactful work in India, Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, said, 'By training local women as Bhujal Jaankars – ground water informed volunteers – and promoting female leadership in village cooperatives, MARVI is helping communities make informed choices about which crops to plant based on the availability of water. As one of our flagship community-led projects in the region, Western Sydney University is deeply invested in this project. We are also committed to delivering world-class education that aligns with India's skill needs.' Sharing his perspective on this landmark achievement, Professor Williams says, 'Western Sydney University is showing the world the way. Universities around the world are being urged to return to their primary role as public sector organisations delivering public good. The Impact Rankings recognise that Western Sydney University is the world's best at delivering public good in the communities we serve. It's in our DNA.' Western Sydney University works in partnership with communities in Western Sydney and globally including in India and its offshore locations in Indonesia and Vietnam to deliver on its commitment to the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rankings assess what universities are doing to improve lives based on the SDGs and assess our research, teaching, campus operations, policies and community engagement and outreach. These include climate action, gender equality, ending poverty, providing affordable and clean energy, reducing inequality, industry innovation and producing sustainable cities and communities. In addition to the overall world number one ranking, the University was highly ranked in the following categories: 4th in the world for SDG 15 Life on Land 7th in the world for SDG 5 Gender Equality 8th in the world for SDG 13 Climate Action and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production 9th in the world for SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities 10th in the world for SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting their real-world social and environmental impact. Unlike traditional rankings, they recognise institutions for driving positive change in areas like health, education, and climate action. About Western Sydney University Advertisement Western Sydney University prides itself on challenging the traditional notion of what a university should be. We put students at the heart of everything we do. Embedded in the communities and region we serve, our university is fundamental to the economic, cultural and social life of Western Sydney – one of the fastest-growing, most economically important and most culturally-diverse regions within Australia. We have a network of sites and teaching campuses across Western Sydney and beyond. Western Sydney University has 50,000 students, 3,000 staff, and over 1300 International Indian students, and a strong cohort – both locally and globally – of more than 200,000 alumni. The University has a long and proud history of increasing higher education participation and opening educational opportunities to students who have the drive, ambition and dedication to succeed, particularly for individuals from diverse and lower socio-economic backgrounds. At the forefront of education innovation, our programs are designed to help address Australia's current and future workforce needs, with our expanding short courses and micro credential offerings helping people rapidly upskill or reskill in their careers and stay competitive in a fast-changing workplace. The University has been named number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings four years in a row. We are globally focused, research led and committed to making a positive impact on the communities we engage with. Click here for Media Contact Details Submit your press release Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
