Gandhinagar, March 23 The graduation ceremony of the first graduate batch from Deakin University at the GIFT City campus highlights India's transformation as a global knowledge center and reflects the growing partnership between India and Australia, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Monday.
Deakin University is the first foreign university to establish a physical campus in India. Located in GIFT City, the campus offers postgraduate programs in Business Analytics and Cyber Security.
Addressing the event, Patel said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country's education sector has undergone a global transformation based on need. This has been important, as he has played a key role in digital and technology-driven education in higher educational institutions."
The graduation ceremony of the first batch of graduates at its GIFT City campus, which marks the beginning of Deakin University as an international branch campus in India, is not just an occasion to confer degrees, he said.
"It is also an opportunity to highlight to the world the transformation that India has undergone as a global knowledge center. This graduation also reflects the growing partnership between India and Australia," Patel asserted.
The Prime Minister has looked forward to the welfare of the world with the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', and under his guidance, Gujarat is moving beyond trade and tradition and emerging as a global economic and knowledge center, Patel said.
"With his vision, the Prime Minister has adopted the approach of ensuring that the best in the world is available to the youth of Gujarat in their own backyard. As a result, sector-specific universities like the Forensic Sciences University, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Maritime University, and Rakshashakti and National Law University have been established in the state," the CM said.
In addition, he said that GIFT City is a living example of the Prime Minister's vision, with a unique integration of financial services, technology, and education, and four operational foreign universities.
"Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, there has been a continuous increase in the number of higher education institutions in the country. In 2014, there were 16 IITs in the country, which has now increased to 23. Global campuses of IITs have also been established. The number of IIMs has increased from 13 to 21, and the number of AIIMS has also increased from 7 to 20," he said.
The Chief Minister said that the National Education Policy 2020, prepared under the guidance and leadership of the Prime Minister, has brought education in line with global standards.
Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green was also present at the event.
