Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Sweeney confirmed that Western Sydney University (WSU) plans to submit an application to India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish a “state-of-the-art” campus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
On 4th January 2025, WSU and the Government of Uttar Pradesh virtually signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project. The MOU was signed by Prof. Sweeney and Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh (representing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government).
The two-phase plan will initially use existing teaching facilities in Greater Noida, while the state will eventually provide seven acres of land and necessary clearances for a full campus. WSU officials expect to begin program delivery in 2026 once approvals are in place.
WSU plans to offer a broad range of programs tailored to local needs, including undergraduate and postgraduate courses in computer science, business, and engineering. It will also emphasize agriculture and technology.
Professor Sweeney noted the campus would focus on “creating impactful solutions for sustainable agriculture and food security, with teaching, research, and technological innovations specifically tailored for India’s agritech, technology, and other allied industries”.
In support of this, WSU will establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Greater Noida dedicated to smart farming and water-security research. The CoE will address critical challenges like precision agriculture, irrigation efficiency and agri-commodity processing.
Professor Sweeney said the MOU was “an important milestone” and would “herald the next chapter” for WSU’s international education efforts. She added that the university is “deeply committed to expanding our presence in India” and “taking Western Sydney to the world”.
Chief Secretary Manoj Singh called the agreement “a game-changer for Uttar Pradesh” that would elevate the state’s status on the global education map and contribute to the region’s economic transformation.
WSU’s outreach in India goes beyond Uttar Pradesh –– the university has shown a broader strategy of building educational partnerships in India’s fast-growing states. In late 2023, the university sent a delegation to Karnataka, expressing interest in an agricultural campus in Bangalore.
Vice-Chancellor George Williams told Karnataka officials that WSU is “keen” to start a campus in Bengaluru focusing on water management in agriculture and food processing, and is open to collaborating with local agricultural universities.
The planned campuses mark a major step in India–Australia education ties. WSU is ranked among the world’s top universities for social and environmental impact, and it views India as a key part of its global footprint.
This move reinforces bilateral efforts to internationalize higher education. India’s National Education Policy encourages global collaboration, and Australian institutions have already entered India’s market: Deakin University and the University of Wollongong both operate campuses in Gujarat’s GIFT City. With the Greater Noida campus, WSU will become the third Australian university to have a full-scale campus in India.
Professor Sweeney said the Greater Noida campus will provide “life-changing opportunities for the next generation of leaders, empowering them to support India’s economic transformation”. Chief Secretary Singh noted that the campus would boost Uttar Pradesh’s profile “on the global education map” and help drive growth in one of India’s fastest-developing regions.
