Australian universities are expanding their presence overseas, with five institutions having opened campuses in India and another preparing to launch, Education Minister Jason Clare told the Australian International Education Conference 2026 on Tuesday.

In his speech, Clare highlighted the growth of Australian higher education in India and Vietnam, describing international education as a force that changes lives, strengthens the economy and connects Australia with the world.

Five Australian universities — Deakin University, the University of Wollongong, UNSW, Victoria University and the University of Western Australia — have opened campuses in India, in Mumbai and Chennai, according to Clare. Western Sydney University is preparing to open a campus in Greater Noida.

In Vietnam, the Government has also approved an investment licence for RMIT University’s new campus in Hanoi.

“They want to see more Australian universities join them,” Clare said, referring to overseas partners seeking further Australian university investment.

Clare said international education did not have to depend solely on students travelling to Australia, noting that overseas campuses could provide access to Australian qualifications for those unable to relocate or afford to study in the country.

“Not everyone can come here to study. Not everyone can afford it. But we can come to them.”

Education’s impact beyond the economy

Clare acknowledged the sector’s contribution to Australian employment and economic growth but said its impact extended well beyond financial benefits.

“Education is the most powerful force for good in this world. It changes lives. And changes countries.”

He shared the story of a young Afghan woman living in Melbourne who had escaped Afghanistan on one of the final flights from Kabul when the Taliban took control. While she had begun a PhD in Australia, her sister remained in Afghanistan and was unable to attend school.

Clare said their contrasting circumstances illustrated how access to education could shape people’s futures.

He also recalled meeting a young woman during a visit to a Delhi slum in December 2025. After completing school and earning a degree from Delhi University, she had recently been accepted into a master’s degree at the University of Sydney.

“She’s here now. Studying. Her life is changing. It will never be the same again,” Clare said.

“That’s what you make possible. That’s the transformational power of education.”

Protecting Australia’s international education reputation

The minister also acknowledged challenges facing the international education sector, saying the Government had introduced changes to strengthen integrity, tackle unscrupulous operators and better protect students.

He thanked universities and other education providers for working with the Government towards a more sustainable sector.

International education, he said, helped connect Australia with countries across the region, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, alongside the expanding presence in India.

Clare said the conference would provide an opportunity for participants to discuss the opportunities they create, the connections they build and the lives they change.

Minister for International Education Julian Hill was also expected to address the sector’s challenges and priorities during the conference.

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