The first international institution in India to provide blended learning and hire staff from outside of IITs

The first international institution in India to provide blended learning and hire staff from outside of IITs

The University of Wollongong was given permission in principle in May 2023 to open an international branch campus in Gandhinagar's GIFT City. The goal is for the facility to open by July 2024.

In addition, the institution intends to hire faculty members from other universities in addition to the prestigious Indian institution of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

The University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia plans to duplicate its Australian model by delivering blended learning, which combines online and offline courses. UOW is set to become one of the first international institutions to establish an International Branch Campus (IBC) in India.

Patricia M. Davidson, Vice Chancellor (VC) and President of the University of Wollongong, explained the teaching strategies used in the various programs in India, saying, "As in Australia, UOW aims to provide a dynamic learning experience by offering a blend of offline and online resources." Our courses are created to keep students interested with engaging online resources that are complemented by live classes, seminars, and practical applications.

He continued by saying that as part of their degree program, students would have the chance to participate in a range of scaffolded, well thought-out, and learner-centered work-integrated learning (WIL) activities.

At UOW, activities that combine academic learning with real-world work practices are referred to as WIL. These encounters may take place in real or virtual offices, in person or via the internet, and in educational environments. They include industrial projects, workplace simulations, internships, practicums, placements, and service learning.

In addition, the institution intends to hire faculty members from other universities in addition to the prestigious Indian institution of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

"Our recruiting procedure is not restricted to these colleges, however we will give consideration to individuals from India's top universities, such as IITs and IIMs. Davidson told Moneycontrol, "We will give preference to employing instructors who can provide both industry experience and top-notch academic credentials.

Following a roundtable discussion with Professor Davidson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UOW was granted in-principle clearance to create an IBC in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, in May 2023. The goal is for the facility to open by July 2024.

The amount that overseas students pay for tuition at UOW's Australian campus will be half of what the institution sets as its student fees. Merit scholarships will be added to this; they will go to students who have excelled in leadership, academics, community service, and athletics. Scholarships from the institution will also be available to students from economically disadvantaged groups.