Australia’s Victoria University Delhi Campus To Offer STEM, Management And Global Learning Opportunities
· Free Press Journal
As Victoria University prepares to open its Delhi NCR campus, it is bringing its Australian academic model, Block Model pedagogy and globally recognised programmes to India. In an exclusive interaction with The Free Press Journal, Monty Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global) and Chief International Officer; Abhishek Sharma, Chief Operating Officer, Victoria University Delhi NCR; and Karen Dodd, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University Delhi NCR, discuss courses, scholarships, industry links, AI, global mobility and opportunities for Indian students.
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FPJ: What’s new about the Delhi campus, and how will it stand out from other international universities in India?
Monty Singh: With such a large market and strong interest, Victoria University has always had very close ties with the Indian community. When regulations in India allowed foreign higher education institutions to establish campuses here, we were one of the first Australian universities and, in fact, the first Australian university to establish a presence in India.
The Victoria University Delhi campus is designed to emulate our City Tower campus in Melbourne’s central business district, bringing the same experience to India. We’re also aligning with the National Education Policy and the skills in demand in India, bringing some of our best courses from Melbourne, including data science, cybersecurity, information technology, and business and management, with multiple majors. Initially, we’ll offer undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programmes, followed by research programmes, including Master of Research and PhD qualifications.
Karen Dodd: Another important thing we’re bringing is the VU Block Model, which offers a different approach to teaching and learning and also shapes the campus design. We don’t have large lecture theatres; instead, we have modern, flexible spaces and smaller rooms connected through digital technologies, allowing students to interact, access learning resources and engage in a much more flexible way.
FPJ: What courses are you currently offering?
Monty Singh: We’re offering a Bachelor of Business with three majors: Business Analytics, Banking and Finance, and Innovation and Technologies. The Information Technology, Data Science and Cybersecurity programmes share a common foundational year, so students can change their specialisation or major after the first year if their interests change. On the postgraduate side, we’re offering the Master of Business Administration, or MBA, with a strong focus on global engagement, as well as a Master of Information Technology.
FPJ: What kind of scholarships or financial aid is Victoria University offering to students?
Monty Singh: Victoria University is well known for its Block Model approach to teaching and learning, and we also offer the Victoria University Block Model Scholarship. It’s a merit-based, tiered scholarship, with students eligible for 10%, 20% or 30% of their annual tuition fees, depending on their academic credentials. We also have continuing scholarships, which are performance-based and renewable. Based on a student’s engagement with Victoria University in India, GPA, credits and overall academic performance, they can renew the scholarship for another 10%, 20% or 30%.
FPJ: How will you ensure the Delhi campus matches the academic standards and experience of the Melbourne campus?
Monty Singh: We’ve put a lot of thought into the structure and planning to ensure real parity in the way education is delivered. The courses we’re bringing to India are exactly the same as those delivered in Melbourne, with the same professional recognition. So, when it comes to the quality of the qualification, the programme, and its outcomes, there will be parity between VU Melbourne and VU India.
Our governance and quality assurance processes will also be extended to VU India. We’ve aligned the timetables and blocks across both campuses, making it easier for students to move between them for a block or semester. The learning management system and student management system will also be the same, ensuring students get the same experience at VU Melbourne and VU India.
Karen Dodd: We’re also regulated by TEQSA in Australia, which closely monitors governance and quality assurance. So, there are external checks in place to make sure the standards are maintained.
FPJ: Can students choose to study a semester or block in Melbourne?
Monty Singh: It’s really based on the student’s choice. It’s not mandatory, and we also have to consider affordability because not every student can afford to travel to Melbourne. The only condition is that students must complete their first year at VU India. After that, they can choose to go to Melbourne for a block or a semester. The same applies to students at VU Melbourne, who can come to India for an exchange or study abroad after completing their first year.
Karen Dodd: We’re also looking forward to students from Melbourne coming to India for a block or a semester. So, while the campus will primarily serve Indian students, we’re hoping for a really nice mix of students and experiences, bringing that international element to the campus.
FPJ: Can scholarship students use their scholarship while studying a semester or block in Melbourne?
Monty Singh: Yes. If they want to go for one block, the scholarship and fees will remain the same. Even if they want to go for two blocks, the scholarship and fees will remain the same. As you may know, the fees at VU Melbourne are higher than what we’re going to charge at VU India, but students going to Melbourne for a block or up to two blocks will continue to pay the same fees as in India, and the scholarship will continue as well. However, if a student completes their undergraduate degree in India and then wants to pursue a postgraduate programme in Melbourne, they would have to pay the applicable VU Melbourne fees.
FPJ: How will the Delhi campus support students with industry connections and employment opportunities?
Monty Singh: Our campus in Gurugram is embedded within the industry. Rather than establishing a campus and then inviting industry to engage with it, we’ve brought the campus into the middle of an existing industry ecosystem. There are multinational companies all around us, and we’ll be partnering with them while bringing in our industry and career expertise.
One of our mandates is that every course must have work-integrated learning, internships, industry placements, and opportunities for industry engagement on campus. Industry alignment is a key tangible outcome and a core part of our strategy for entering India.
Karen Dodd: The content of some of these courses is aligned with industry certifications. While we don’t provide the certification ourselves, students can access the learning at no additional cost and choose whether they want to take the assessment and receive the relevant accreditation.
FPJ: How is Victoria University approaching AI in education?
Karen Dodd: AI is one of the most important developments we’re seeing right now. It’s having an impact on almost everything we do, so one of our biggest focuses is the responsible use of AI. Across our courses, we’ll teach students how to use AI ethically and responsibly, in ways that enhance their education and learning. At the same time, we need to make sure our assessments are authentic and secure. That’s why many of our assessments are conducted in person, along with other ways of securing assessment. So, there are really two sides to this: teaching students to use AI responsibly and assessing them properly to ensure they’ve acquired the knowledge and skills they need.
While AI is incredibly important, human skills may be more important than ever. That’s where the Block Model comes in, with a strong focus on teamwork, problem-solving, emotional intelligence and communication.
FPJ: Will international campuses in India reduce the number of Indian students choosing to study abroad?
Karen Dodd: It could, and I think part of the issue is that there’s an enormous amount of talent in India, along with huge market demand. Many people perhaps don’t have access to as much education as they would like. So, I think what we’re doing can expand access to education in India and give students who might otherwise have needed to go overseas the opportunity to earn a global degree without leaving the country.
Abhishek Sharma: Exactly. India currently has more than 150 million students in the 18-to-23 age group, and over the next 10 years, there will be more than 35 crore children between the ages of five and 15 entering higher education. That’s the scale of the demand. India has islands of prosperity and oceans of poverty, and one of the biggest factors determining which side someone ends up on is the quality of education. What we’re trying to bring to India is world-class education so that this huge young population has a better chance of building a good life.
FPJ: Could the Delhi campus reduce Indian student enrolment at VU Melbourne?
Abhishek Sharma: No, I would say the number of students in India is simply too large for that. We’re starting with the best 150 to 200 students, but the demand is much larger, and the entire student population cannot be catered to by 20 or 30 foreign universities setting up campuses here. There are also multiple factors at play. With the increasing trend of protectionism in several countries, many Indians are finding it difficult to get visas, and even getting a work visa after studying can be challenging. If a student spends crores of rupees studying abroad but isn’t able to work there, the return on investment simply doesn’t add up.
FPJ: What advice would you give students choosing between studying abroad and an international campus in India?
Abhishek Sharma: If I look at the broader goals under NEP 2020 and Vision 2047, making India Aatmanirbhar and helping India become a Vishwa Guru again, we’re bringing some of the best educators from around the world to India and creating an entire education ecosystem. My strong recommendation is that students should consider staying in the country and exploring these world-class universities in India.
Karen Dodd: Students can earn an excellent, globally recognised degree that is absolutely identical to what we offer in Melbourne, Australia. So, if you can get the same degree here in Delhi, at a fraction of the cost and closer to your family, why wouldn’t you consider it? Of course, some students will still want to go to Melbourne, and that’s completely fine. But this is an excellent opportunity, and one that hasn’t really existed at this scale until now.
FPJ: What qualities do Indian students bring to the university?
Karen Dodd: Well, based on what we’ve experienced, we’ve met quite a number of students and their parents, and the questions they’ve asked have been amazing. They’re incredibly enthusiastic, asking really intelligent questions, and genuinely enthusiastic about education. These students are really tuned in; they know what they want, and they’re very career-focused. I’m genuinely blown away by the students we’ve met.