Western Sydney University, GNIDA Formalise Partnership to Establish Noida Campus

New Delhi, December 11, 2025: The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has formalised its partnership with Western Sydney University (WSU) to establish Uttar Pradesh’s first foreign university campus in Noida. The agreement marks a significant step in GNIDA’s efforts to position the region as a global education and innovation hub, aligning with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision to advance Uttar Pradesh as a leading destination for international institutions. The signing materialized at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, in the august presence of senior leaders from the Government of Australia, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and India’s higher-education community.

Prominent attendees included Awanish Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Alok Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Infrastructure and Industrial Development, MP Agarwal, Principal Secretary Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Professor George Williams, Vice Chancellor and Vice President, Western Sydney University, Professor Deborah Sweeney, Provost, Western Sydney University, Arvind Gupta, Director, Deloitte, and Saumya Srivastav, ACEO, Greater Noida Authority. They were joined by Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, Government of Australia, Dr Vineet Joshi, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), and academic leaders from VNMKV, IIT Ropar, and Haryana Agricultural University.

The partnership supports the establishment of WSU’s new campus within the Greater Noida Authority complex and will strengthen access to global teaching, research, and industry-linked learning in fields such as sustainability, water management, agriculture, artificial intelligence, and business innovation. As part of its phased launch, the university plans to offer programs in Business Analytics, Marketing, Data Science, Sustainable Water Future, and Agriculture in the first year, followed by MBA programs in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Supply Chain Management in the second year.

Speaking at the event, Awanish Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said, “Uttar Pradesh is growing rapidly in both education and infrastructure, and partnerships like this reflect the confidence that the world now places in our state’s development agenda. The arrival of a leading Australian university is not just symbolic; it opens a new horizon of opportunities for our young people, particularly girls, who are achieving extraordinary milestones. This campus will help them pursue ambitions once difficult to access within the state. As Uttar Pradesh moves steadily toward becoming a trillion-dollar economy, such collaborations will assay a crucial role in creating skilled, future-ready talent that contributes meaningfully to India’s growth story.”

Reflecting on the collaboration, Alok Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Infrastructure and Industrial Development, said, “This collaboration represents a significant step toward narrowing the gap between the aspirations of our youth and the opportunities available to them within the state. Uttar Pradesh houses one of the youngest populations in the country, and Greater Noida has already established itself as a thriving hub for technology, manufacturing, and innovation. I am confident that Western Sydney University’s presence will further strengthen this ecosystem by bringing global expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data sciences, and emerging fields. We are pleased that GNIDA has leased approximately forty thousand square feet for the new campus, reaffirming Greater Noida’s growing reputation as a preferred destination for global institutions and forward-looking educational initiatives.”

Representing Australia, Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, Government of Australia, said, “This partnership gloriously demonstrates the shared commitment between Australia and India to support young people in gaining the skills they need for a sustainable and globally competitive future. Western Sydney University is one of Australia’s leading institutions, and its presence in India marks an important milestone in our educational cooperation. I am proud to see this next chapter unfold, because it represents more than an academic partnership, it reflects trust, respect, and a collective vision for empowering the next generation.”

Sharing WSU’s vision for the new campus, Professor George Williams, Vice Chancellor and Vice President, Western Sydney University, said, “Greater Noida emerged as the natural choice for our first campus in India because it aligns perfectly with Western Sydney University’s mission and growth ambitions. From its planned infrastructure to its strong connectivity and expanding innovation ecosystem, the region provides the ideal foundation for high-quality global education. Our goal is to bring deep expertise in sustainability, water management, agriculture, technology, and industry-integrated learning to support India’s priorities in these domains. We are committed to building a campus that delivers world-class academic experiences, robust industry partnerships, and transformative opportunities for students across India and beyond.”

Professor Deborah Sweeney, Provost, Western Sydney University, closed the ceremony by acknowledging the commitment of all partners and highlighting the potential of the new campus to empower India’s next generation of learners and innovators.

The event concluded with a formal document exchange between Western Sydney University and GNIDA, marking the beginning of a long-term collaboration shaped around education, research, and future-ready skills.