Deakin University's commitment to fostering cross-cultural connections between Australia and India is exemplified through its recent strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai. The partnership was announced alongside the special screening of 'My Melbourne' at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, symbolizing a new era of creative collaboration and cultural exchange between the two nations.
The collaboration aims to harness Deakin's global expertise in digital, design, and creative technologies, merging it with India's vibrant creative ecosystem. Through joint programs, research, and mobility initiatives, the partnership seeks to create world-class learning experiences that prepare students and professionals for the next generation of opportunities in creative industries.
Ms. Ravneet Pawha, Vice President (Global Engagement) and CEO (South Asia) at Deakin University, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, 'At Deakin, we are proud to deepen our engagement with India's leading creative and media institutions. The collaboration with IICT brings together Deakin's global expertise in digital, design, and creative technologies with India's vibrant creative ecosystem.'
The partnership marks a significant step in expanding bilateral cooperation across film, digital media, design, and emerging creative technologies. It seeks to progress joint academic initiatives, collaborative research, professional training, and opportunities for student and faculty mobility. It also opens pathways for industry-led learning and innovation connected to Deakin's GIFT City Campus, India's first international branch campus under NEP 2020.
Ms. Victoria Duckett, Associate Dean, International & Engagement at Deakin University, expressed Deakin's optimistic outlook, saying, 'The connection that Deakin University and IICT celebrate through the partnership is exciting: it takes the creative industries and cutting-edge technologies, and proposes the creative industries as the bridge for transnational connection and exchange. What this highlights is education, in all its manifold possibilities.'
The collaboration's larger aim focuses on aligning Australia's strengths in screen production, immersive media, and creative education with India's rapidly growing creative economy and global cultural influence. The partnership is designed to support a future-ready creative workforce and strengthen cross-border knowledge exchange.
The screening of 'My Melbourne' at the festival celebrated multiculturalism, contemporary storytelling, and the lived experiences of diverse communities and the Indian diaspora in Australia. Envisioned and produced by Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM, the movie illustrates the power of film to build deeper cultural understanding, an ethos that sits at the heart of Deakin's engagement with India.
Ms. Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Director of IFFM and Founder/Director of Mind Blowing Films, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, 'The partnership represents one of the most ambitious India-Australia film initiatives to date. Through shared festivals, industry ties, educational pathways, and expanded distribution, the collaboration announced at the IFFI lays the groundwork for the Indo-Australian screen ecosystem.'
The events reflect a shared vision, using creativity, education, and storytelling as powerful bridges between Australia and India, while enabling the next generation of filmmakers, designers, and digital creators to thrive in global creative industries.
Deakin University, established in 1974, is committed to combining excellence in teaching, research, and effective partnerships with industry and government to deliver high-quality courses and undertake research that makes a difference to the domestic and international communities it serves. Deakin's South Asia operations commenced in 1994 at New Delhi, India, making it one of the first overseas education providers to set up operations in this region.
