Mumbai: The opening of the University of Western Australia (UWA) India’s Mumbai campus will give a fresh impetus to Maharashtra’s efforts to transform Mumbai into a global centre for knowledge, innovation, technology and talent, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday.

Fadnavis inaugurated the UWA India, Mumbai campus in the presence of Western Australia Premier Roger Cook, UWA Chancellor Dr Diane Smith-Gander, Vice-Chancellor Prof Amit Chakma, university officials, faculty members, students and other dignitaries.

Fadnavis described UWA’s decision to establish its first Indian campus in Mumbai as a matter of pride for Maharashtra. He noted that UWA is the first Australian Group of Eight university to establish a campus in India, calling the move a reflection of Mumbai’s growing global significance and its potential as an international education and innovation hub.

“Although Mumbai is the country’s financial, commercial and entertainment capital, our vision is to develop it as a global knowledge and innovation centre for the next generation,” Fadnavis said.

He said the Mumbai 3.0 development initiative is being planned with an ecosystem comprising an Education City, Medi-City, Innovation City and Global Capability Centres, alongside new centres for research and industrial development.

Focus on AI, Cybersecurity and Clean Energy

Fadnavis said the National Education Policy 2020 had opened new avenues for international academic collaboration and transformed India’s higher education landscape.

While Indian students earlier had to travel abroad for access to several global universities, leading institutions are now establishing campuses in India, with Maharashtra emerging as a key destination, he said.

Students at the UWA Mumbai campus will gain access not only to an international academic environment but also to Mumbai’s ecosystem of major financial institutions, multinational companies, technology firms, startups, researchers and entrepreneurs, Fadnavis said.

He expressed the hope that UWA and Maharashtra would expand joint research and academic collaboration in emerging sectors including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare, critical minerals, clean energy, sustainable development and advanced manufacturing technologies.

“Western Australia has outstanding capabilities, while Maharashtra offers a vast pool of talent and opportunities. A knowledge-driven partnership between the two regions can become a strong pillar of India-Australia relations,” Fadnavis said.

He assured UWA of the Maharashtra government’s full support in expanding the partnership.

‘Historic Milestone’ in India-Australia Ties

Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described the Mumbai campus as a historic milestone in relations between Western Australia and India, particularly Maharashtra.

He said Mumbai had been a key centre of Western Australia’s engagement with India for the past three decades, with partnerships developing in education, research, technology, industry and people-to-people ties.

The UWA Mumbai campus, he said, would create new opportunities for students in global education, research, industry collaboration and international careers while strengthening cooperation between India and Western Australia in knowledge, innovation and skills development.

UWA Chancellor Dr Diane Smith-Gander said around A$80 million has been invested in the Mumbai and Chennai campuses, describing the investment as a demonstration of the university’s commitment to strengthening India-Australia ties.

Three Indian Students Get 100% Scholarships

Speaking to the media after the inauguration, Fadnavis said the state government had been pursuing the establishment of the UWA campus in Mumbai for several days.

He welcomed UWA’s decision to provide 100% scholarships to three Indian students, saying the initiative would help reduce the foreign-exchange expenditure otherwise incurred by students seeking education overseas.

He also said UWA’s research-oriented activities could contribute to Maharashtra’s economic growth.

Fadnavis added that campuses of various universities are being developed as part of the proposed Education City, which is expected to accommodate around one lakh students in the future.