The University of Western Australia (UWA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Avid Sports, the sporting arm of AvidSys Group, in a strategic move to deepen India–Australia relations and create new global learning opportunities for students.
UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience), Professor Guy Littlefair, highlighted how the agreement aligns with the University’s 2030 Vision:
“This demonstrates UWA’s commitment to meaningful international collaboration and creating opportunities for students, researchers, and industry to work together in advancing global knowledge and skills.”
AvidSys Group is a multi-sector family investment house with business interests across mining, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, construction, infrastructure, media, and international sports. Through Avid Sports, the group has made its mark in India’s sporting landscape by acquiring and developing the Chennai Bulls Rugby Sevens franchise—the only foreign-owned team in the league.
Avid Sports Director Sruti Simon emphasised the organisation’s vision for driving education and innovation through sport: “We are proud to partner with UWA to connect education, research, and industry.”
“By combining UWA’s expertise with our vision for sport in India, we can deliver meaningful opportunities for students and strengthen ties between our two nations.”
Under the leadership of renowned coach Ben Gollings, the Bulls clinched the inaugural Rugby Premier League championship in 2025, showcasing the group’s ambitions to professionalise rugby in India. The franchise aims to transform the sporting ecosystem through world-class infrastructure, elite training programs, youth development pathways, and community engagement initiatives.
The MoU, signed at UWA’s Crawley campus, marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration that will provide students in fields including sport science, business, marketing, and high-performance training with industry-led internships, practicums, and immersive experiences across India and Australia.
Professor Silvana Gaudieri, Head of UWA’s School of Human Sciences, called the collaboration a major step forward for bilateral cooperation: “This partnership combines UWA’s academic expertise in sport science and human performance with Avid Sports’ global networks.”
“Together, we will open new avenues for student-athlete development, research collaborations, and cultural exchange that benefit both nations.”
This partnership supports UWA’s historic expansion into India, with the University recently securing approval to establish International Branch Campuses in Mumbai and Chennai—making it the first Group of Eight (Go8) university to achieve this milestone.
The MoU reflects UWA’s broader strategic engagement with India, which includes partnerships with major players like HCLTech to establish innovation hubs, and a collaboration with Avasara Academy to support scholarships for academically talented girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
With its first Indian campuses set to launch in the next 18 months, UWA’s partnership with Avid Sports represents a cornerstone initiative in linking education with industry outcomes, creating a pipeline for global talent development, and reinforcing the growing synergy between India and Australia in sport, education, and business.
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