University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten says UC and India have strong ties. Photos: UC Media.
University of Canberra vice-chancellor Bill Shorten and other tertiary education leaders will join Chief Minister Andrew Barr on a trade mission to India this week.
The six-day mission is designed to strengthen Canberra’s education, tourism, and sporting ties with the large, fast‑growing Indian economy.
Senior representatives from the ACT’s other major tertiary institutions, University of New South Wales Canberra, the Australian National University and the Australian Catholic University will also join the mission.
Both UC and UNSW Canberra have a growing presence in India.
UC’s Chief Global Engagement Officer, Dr Fiona Richards, and Deputy Director, Future Students, Aditya Vaddiparthi, will accompany Mr Shorten.
Other officials are UNSW Canberra Rector and Dean, Professor Emma Sparks; ACU Pro Vice-Chancellor Global (Interim) and Director, Global Engagement, Bronwyn Bartsch; and ANU Head, International Relations & Partnerships – STEMM, Jay Poria; and Dean of the ANU College of Science and Medicine, Professor Kiaran Kirk.
VisitCanberra officials and the CEO of Cricket ACT, Olivia Thornton, will explore tourism and sporting opportunities, including the resumption of Singapore Airlines flights to Canberra.
Mr Shorten said the visit was a valuable opportunity to deepen the longstanding economic and education partnerships between Australia and India.
“India has been an important collaborator with UC over the years, particularly in advancing our high-quality education and research partnerships,” he said.
“This trip will provide the opportunity to ensure that Australians, especially here in Canberra, can benefit from accessing exceptional study opportunities in India, while Indian students continue to access world-class Australian education.”
The ACT Government says the mission is a key part of Canberra’s International Engagement Strategy, with India as a priority partner, reflecting Canberra’s largest diaspora community and the importance of education, research, and economic relationships.
Backed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade and Tourism Australia, the mission aligns closely with the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).
It will include engagements with government agencies, higher education institutions and agents, and tourism industry leaders.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr says India is the ACT’s second-largest market for international students.
Mr Barr said the mission would focus on promoting Canberra’s two major export industries – international education and tourism.
“India is the ACT’s second largest market for international students, with more than 2500 Indian students undertaking tertiary studies last year – a testament to the strong ties between Canberra and India. It makes sense to strengthen and expand the opportunities from this relationship,” he said.
Mr Barr said India was also the Territory’s fifth largest international market for visitors, attracting 15,000 visitors in the 12 months to September 2025, which represents 7 per cent of all international arrivals to the ACT.
“India and its people play a significant role in our visitor economy – a connection that offers significant growth potential to leverage leisure, business events, students, the visiting friends and relatives of students, as well as an emerging high school group tour market. We hope to build on this important connection through this trade mission,” he said.
Mr Barr said increasing the number of Indian tourists to Canberra was also an essential element in growing the ACT’s visitor economy and passenger numbers to support the resumption of direct flights to Canberra from Singapore Airlines.
“Singapore Airlines has direct flights to Singapore from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Amritsar, which could feed Indian tourists into a future direct Singapore to Canberra service,” he said.
“Doubling the number of Indian tourists to Canberra each year to reach 30,000 would mean around 600 tourists a week, filling the equivalent of two international flights each week.
“This Indian tourism growth goal, combined with increased visitor numbers out of the United Kingdom, Europe, China and the ASEAN nations, is what is required to see a resumption of Singapore Airlines services to Canberra.”
Mr Barr said that this year the ACT would work closely with Tourism Australia, VisitCanberra, Canberra Airport and key tourism partners to advance these goals.
As part of the two‑day Delhi leg, Mr Barr and university leaders will host a series of education agent events and attend a reception hosted by the Australian High Commissioner.
Mr Barr, Tourism Australia and VisitCanberra will also lead a tourism roundtable with key Indian travel agents and partners.
The Delhi leg also includes a tour of the Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, a joint exhibition with the National Museum of Australia that showcases cooperation between Delhi and Canberra institutions.
In Bangalore, Mr Barr will meet with government and education-sector representatives; address a reception hosted by the Consulate General, with key representatives from the education, aviation, and tourism industries; and engage with school counsellors and principals at a roundtable.
He will also participate in the launch of the 2026 University of Canberra/Cricket ACT T10 Cricket Challenge.
The cost of the Chief Minister’s participation is about $10,800. This is met from within the existing Legislative Assembly-appropriated ACT Executive budget. The final cost will be reported as part of the regular quarterly ministerial travel reports.
