Manipal, 12 September 2023: Deakin University, a leading Australian university, is proud to announce the expansion of its strategic engagement initiative, Deakin HUBS, following the establishment of three Deakin HUBS at key partner institutions in India last year. Building on this foundation of collaboration and innovation, the University has announced the establishment of the fourth Deakin HUB at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), one of India’s leading academic and research institutions.

This announcement is one of the many steps taken by Deakin University towards realising the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to achieve internationalisation of higher education in India through research collaborations and student exchange with high-quality foreign higher educational institutions (HEI). Deakin HUB at MAHE will act as the central point of all engagement activities aimed at strengthening the university-industry-government partnership and achieving academic and research excellence that is meaningful for both India and Australia.

The announcement was made by Professor Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, during his ongoing visit to India, which commenced in New Delhi. Professor Martin presented a certificate to Lt Gen (Dr) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor of MAHE Manipal, symbolically marking the establishment of the Deakin HUB, strengthening its long-standing and multi-faceted partnership with the institution.

“With this announcement, we are creating a new milestone in a flourishing partnership of over two decades between our institutions. This exciting development will help our joint efforts scale new heights, fostering more strategic collaboration dedicated to enhancing academic and research excellence. With better mobility and growth outcomes, we aim to develop the skill potential of students and create global citizens of the future,” said Professor Iain Martin.

MAHE and Deakin University have collaborated and engaged in joint research, academic articulations and student mobility over the span of two decades. Through the Deakin HUB, MAHE and Deakin University will establish a model to explore innovative pathways in higher education, research and training that are of in-country programs leading to onshore studies in Australia. Students can look forward to ease of mobility between the campuses in India and Australia and end-to-end support from Deakin for in-country assistance in internships and industry interaction. The highlight will be the boost of not one but two-way mobility.

Lt Gen (Dr) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor of MAHE, Manipal, said, “Throughout our illustrious history, MAHE has consistently been a magnet for foreign students seeking academic excellence in India. Dating back to the establishment of our inaugural self-financed medical college in 1953, we opened our doors to Malaysian students, a tradition that has proudly endured over the years. The partnership between Deakin and MAHE has been marked by a proactive commitment to internationalisation, and it fills me with immense enthusiasm to announce the formal establishment of the Deakin HUB in Manipal. This momentous step signifies our collective resolve to elevate our partnership to unprecedented heights. I am firmly convinced that this initiative will serve as a catalyst for even more profound collaborations, particularly in the realm of research.”

“The announcement of the new Deakin HUB at MAHE is very exciting as it gives us an opportunity to take our partnership a notch higher to innovate on delivering contemporary models of academic and research pathways between India and Australia. It will herald the next chapter of knowledge exchange with expanding

global opportunities for excellence available to Indian students, research fellows and academics,” added Ravneet Pawha, Vice-President (Global Alliances) and CEO (South Asia) Deakin University.

The fourth Deakin HUB in India at MAHE is preceded by three others at OP Jindal Global University (Sonipat), Symbiosis International University (Pune) and Chitkara University (Chandigarh). These HUBS are Deakin’s flagship initiative for stepping up their engagement in India aimed at enhancing growth, student mobility and joint research as well as a deeper collaboration between Indian institutes and Deakin. They have steadily and successfully increased the possibilities for Indian students to give a global dimension to their vision and ambitions while offering a platform for knowledge partnership between Australia and India.