Monash University, Australia’s largest university, launched their Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) programme in Mumbai as it welcomed the inaugural cohort of GIG students to India.
The launch was hosted by Dean of Arts, Professor Sharon Pickering and featured guest speakers Tony Huber, Australian Consul General in Mumbai, Professor Murali Sastry, CEO IITB – Monash Research Academy and Professor Susan Elliott AM, Monash Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education). Entertainment for the evening was provided by Monash Alumnus Raghav Sachar, a Bollywood sensation with the unique ability to play 36 different musical instruments who specifically crafted an exclusive act titled ‘21 instruments in 9 minutes’.
The ground-breaking Monash Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) programme is a Monash University, Faculty of Arts initiative that offers a guaranteed, funded overseas placement for every Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Global Studies student. The value of the GIG program has been recognised by the Australian Government with a major funding injection through the New Colombo Plan (NCP). Under NCP, over $2.2 million has been allocated to enable the program to expand its reach, including 610 new places for students to travel to India in the first year of their studies.
The GIG programme will play a valuable role within Monash University’s broader engagement in India and the South-East Asia region. The initiative reaffirms Monash
Dean of Arts at Monash University, Professor Sharon Pickering, said “The Monash Arts Global Immersion Guarantee underlines our absolute commitment to the importance of students developing a global perspective as part of their studies. I’m proud that this opportunity will be available to every Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Global Studies student, regardless of their financial position.”
