MAHE, University of Sydney sign pact to strengthen research, education collaboration

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and the University of Sydney (USYD) signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration in education, research, innovation and international mobility during the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s India Mission held from August 31 to September 3, 2026.

The agreement was a key outcome of the mission, which aimed to strengthen cooperation between NSW and India across education, research, innovation, economy and culture.

Representatives from MAHE and the University of Sydney later attended a special reception hosted by the NSW Government at The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, where the partnership was formally announced in the presence of NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey.

The four-day India Mission was led by Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW, and Daniel Mookhey MLC, NSW Treasurer. It brought together senior government officials, policymakers, academics, industry leaders and other stakeholders from NSW and India to explore opportunities for closer cooperation.

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MAHE, University of Sydney partnership

The partnership between MAHE and the University of Sydney is expected to create opportunities for academic exchange, collaborative research , innovation and international mobility. It also supports the wider objectives of the NSW Government’s India Mission by turning government-level engagement into institutional partnerships.

Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said that education, research and innovation could play an important role in strengthening ties between NSW and India.

Rao said, “The NSW Government’s India Mission provides an important platform for strengthening the longstanding ties between New South Wales and India. Education, research and innovation can play a defining role in building deeper, more sustainable relationships between our two regions.”

He added, “MAHE’s growing partnerships with universities in NSW reflect our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for students, faculty and researchers to collaborate and exchange knowledge. We look forward to contributing to a stronger India-NSW partnership through sustained academic, research and innovation-led engagement.”

NSW India Mission 2026

The NSW Government’s India Mission focused on strengthening engagement between the two regions across multiple sectors, including education, research, innovation, trade and investment.

The mission brought together representatives from government, higher education, industry and other sectors to identify areas for long-term cooperation. A special reception hosted at The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai provided a platform for the NSW Premier and Treasurer to meet Indian government leaders, senior officials, policymakers and members of the NSW delegation.

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The mission also highlighted the role of higher education and research institutions in building long-term connections between NSW and India. Partnerships between universities can support student and faculty mobility, research collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange.

The NSW Government said the mission created opportunities for sustained partnerships among governments, institutions, industry and communities, with a focus on strengthening the broader NSW-India relationship.