Stronger collaboration between universities and industry in India and Australia will be essential to preparing future-ready graduates, according to speakers at the India–Australia Showcase 2026, held at The University of Queensland (UQ) on 27 February.
Co-hosted by Austrade and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) as part of the Indian University Founders Mission to Australia, the Showcase brought together senior leaders from universities, government and industry in both countries to discuss the emerging priorities shaping global employability.
During the panel discussion, From Degree to Employment: Turning India–Australia Partnerships into Workforce Outcomes, speakers highlighted 3 areas requiring urgent attention: deeper industry engagement, sharper focus on emerging skills, and expanded international education collaboration.
Strengthening industry-aligned education
Mr Srikant Nandigam, Chief Executive Officer, Vignan Group of Institutions, noted Indian universities – long recognised for employer engagement – are increasingly adopting dual degree and twinning programs with global institutions, including Australian partners, to strengthen graduate outcomes.
SRM Institute of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor C. Muthamizhchelvan said jointly designed programs were helping students gain practical, globally relevant skills.
“Transnational education and study abroad opportunities significantly improve Indian graduate employment outcomes by strengthening global exposure and industry readiness,” Professor Muthamizhchelvan said.
Study Queensland Senior Talent and Employability Officer Ms Susan Schlinker said structured internships and placements were essential to preparing students for work.
“By bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas, interns can help organisations address operational challenges, improve processes and enhance productivity,” she said.
Engaging SMEs and startups to drive innovation
Austrade South Asia Trade and Investment Commissioner, Vik Singh, said industry is increasingly favouring collaboration models that deliver rapid, scalable outcomes aligned with commercialisation and innovation goals.
Panellists noted that universities must look beyond major corporates and engage more deeply with SMEs and startups, which now drive much of India’s and Australia’s innovation. They highlighted co-created initiatives – such as industry‑embedded projects, joint problem‑solving and flexible curricula – as essential to keeping graduates workforce ready.
UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Partnerships) Brett Lovegrove said universities have a growing responsibility to strengthen these sectors’ innovation capacity.
“As SMEs and startups take on a larger share of the innovation landscape, universities play a critical role in helping them scale ideas, address real problems and access emerging talent,” Mr Lovegrove said.
“Global partnerships must evolve beyond traditional research models to create agile, industry‑responsive ecosystems where students, researchers and entrepreneurs collaborate. By working more closely with fast‑moving smaller companies, we can build practical opportunities that boost regional innovation and prepare students for the future economy.”
Human capabilities rising in importance
While technical expertise remains vital, panellists said global employers are increasingly prioritising human capabilities, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and cross-cultural competence.
UQ Professor John Cairney, Head of the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, stressed the need for universities to align education with broader societal and industry needs.
He said universities must not only consider what they are good at, but what they are good for – signalling a shift toward education that delivers social value, global awareness and meaningful community impact.
Panellists agreed these human skills are now essential for graduates navigating complex and fast changing international environments. Universities in Australia, India and other regions are responding through redesigned curricula, expanded global mobility, and challenge-based programs that connect students with peers and industry across borders.
Boosting two-way student mobility
The showcase also highlighted the need to increase reciprocal student mobility between India and Australia to deepen people-to-people ties and support globally engaged learning.
Despite India being one of the world’s largest sources of outbound students, only one international student studies in India for every 28 Indian students who study abroad – a point highlighted by Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Chair, QS India and Vice President, Strategic and International Engagement. Panellists said this imbalance reflects India’s strong potential to host global learners and encouraged more Australian students to undertake study, research and industry experiences in India.
“Exposure to India’s technological and entrepreneurial landscape can significantly enhance global perspectives and employability. Such experiences develop the intercultural capability, adaptability and problem solving skills that employers increasingly demand,” Mr Lovegrove said.
Achieving more balanced mobility will require expanded scholarships, streamlined credit recognition and programs aligned with India’s national priorities and Australia’s global engagement goals, according to the panel.
