CDU to strengthen ties with South Asian partners after international cap assurances

A delegation from Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) leadership is embarking on an intensive 17-day tour of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to reignite existing relationships with South Asian partners and lay the groundwork for new connections.

The delegation will meet with key agents and prospective students to promote CDU and the Northern Territory as study destinations. 

The tour comes just one week after the federal government provided the University with an indicative cap of 2,200 international students for 2025.

This certainty for 2025 was welcomed, but the number falls short of both the Territory’s and CDU’s aspirations for international student numbers.

CDU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Scott Bowman said that the hard work of recruitment has just begun, with the trip to South Asia reassuring partners that CDU was an excellent choice

“We compete, not only with other quality universities in Australia for international students, but also with universities in the United States, Canada, the UK and New Zealand, Professor Bowman said.

“Visa rejections and the rhetoric of caps have caused a loss of confidence among students wanting to come to Australia. This delegation is about rebuilding confidence in the market and thanking our partners for their support across this very difficult year.”

“It is critical that international students continue to consider the Northern Territory and CDU as a destination of choice. They help the University to deliver tertiary education in the Territory for all Territorians,” he said. 

CDU currently has around 3,500 international students. In 2023, approximately 2,100 students commenced their studies at CDU. 

“One of the biggest draws for international students is access to jobs. International students have more opportunities to enter the local workforce after studying at a regional university,” Professor Bowman said. 

In addition to agents and students, the delegation will meet with ambassadors in Delhi and Nepal.

The delegation will also incorporate visits to Maiti Nepal, an organisation CDU partners with to fund scholarships for women to attend vocational and higher education courses in Nepal.

The CDU delegation to South Asia includes Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Scott Bowman AO; Vice-President Global and External Relations, Shannon Holborn; Director of Global, Dr Adam Lam; Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Health, Professor Dominic Upton; Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Science and Technology, Professor Suresh Thennadil; and Regional Director – South Asia, Girishh Iyer.