Chennai,Oct 6
The University of Western Australia (UWA) has received final approval from the University Grants Commission to establish its Chennai campus, with classes scheduled to begin on October 19.
The approval clears the way for the Australian university to welcome its first students in Chennai, following the opening of its Mumbai campus in September. In a statement issued on October 2, UWA said orientation was scheduled to begin on October 5.
The 70,000-square-foot campus occupies the seventh floor of One National Park on Velachery Main Road. It forms part of the university’s investment of AUD 80 million in wholly owned campuses in India.
Undergraduate courses will include business management, computer science, data science and advanced computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence. Postgraduate programmes will comprise a Master of Information Technology and a Master of Business Administration.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay welcomed the university’s arrival, saying it would expand access to internationally recognised education and strengthen links between the state and Western Australia.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said the Chennai campus would deepen cooperation in education, skills, technology and industry. He said government and industry relationships would help create opportunities for students, businesses and communities in both regions.
UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said the final approval marked the transition from planning to admitting students. He highlighted Chennai’s technology and innovation strengths and the opportunities to connect students with the university’s academic and industry networks.
Chancellor Dr Diane Smith-Gander described Chennai as an important addition to UWA’s presence in India.
The university said its programmes would connect academic learning with the needs of an evolving economy. Orientation would familiarise students with the campus and academic environment, while its global network would provide opportunities to engage with peers, academics and industry representatives in India and overseas.
