A year on, GIFT City a mixed bag for foreign university campuses

A YEAR AFTER starting operations at GIFT City in Gandhi-nagar, Australia’s Deakin University and the University of Wollongong (UOW) — the first foreign university campuses to set up in India — have received mixed responses.

- KRISHNA BAROT

Both institutions continue to face several challenges, including expanding small student cohorts, and attracting foreign faculty.

Deakin GIFT and UOW India commenced their inaugural cohorts in July 2024 and November 2024, respectively. Their curriculum, aimed at fostering problem-solving, upskilling, and peer learning, serves as a key selling point. This approach aligns with GIFT City’s growing need for skilled professionals in financial management, fintech, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as outlined by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).

Industry focus

Deepak Bajaj, campus director of Deakin University GIFT, emphasised that courses designed to make students more industry-ready are crucial for attracting enrolments and ensuring strong placements.

“As a new university, ensuring top-tier placements for students is the challenge. Which is why Deakin’s programme aims to equip students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge,” he said. This approach appears to have been well received by students, who hope to benefit from accredited foreign degrees at considerably lower costs than studying abroad.

Student perspectives

Prajwal Bharad, a student at UOW India pursuing a master’s in financial technology (fintech), said the campus presented a valuable alternative to studying overseas.