UniSport Australia awarded CAIR grant to strengthen Australia–India university partnerships through sport 

UniSport Australia has been awarded funding through the Australian Government’s Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR) to support a two-year initiative focused on strengthening university collaboration, student engagement and people-to-people connections between Australia and India through sport.

The initiative builds on relationships established through the Australian Universities Cricket Tour of India in 2024 and the reciprocal Indian university tour to Australia in 2025, highlighting the role of university sport in creating meaningful connections between students, universities and communities across both countries.

Delivered in partnership with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), the UniSport-led initiative will support collaboration and knowledge sharing to advance India’s university sport strategy, while strengthening leadership, governance, organisational capability and workforce planning across the AIU network.

The partnership will also expand engagement between Australian and Indian universities, including future student, university, team and leadership exchanges.

Representing one of the world’s largest higher education systems, the Indian university sector supports more than 42 million students and continues to expand its focus on student engagement, participation and international collaboration, creating significant opportunities for long-term partnership and shared learning between universities in Australia and India.

Centre for Australia-India Relations CEO Ryan Neelam said the Maitri Grants Program was helping build partnerships that create lasting value for both countries.
“By supporting initiatives across technology, business, education and cultural sectors, we’re not just strengthening diplomatic ties, we’re building the foundations for partnerships that create real, lasting benefits for people in both countries.”

“People-to-people connections are at the heart of what makes this relationship endure. Maitri celebrates the shared stories, ideas and creative exchange that bring Australia and India closer together.”

UniSport Australia CEO Mark Sinderberry said the initiative reflected the increasing role university sport can play in advancing international engagement, student mobility and people-to-people ties between Australia and India.

“Sport has a unique ability to bring people together and create lasting relationships, particularly among young people,” Sinderberry said.

“What began with cricket tours and student exchanges has grown into a broader opportunity for universities to deepen collaboration and strengthen relationships between Australia and India.”

“This initiative is about much more than sport. It is about collaboration, exchange, learning and building long-term relationships between two countries with deep and growing ties.”

Sinderberry said the partnership reflected the growing role of university sport in advancing international engagement.

“Universities play a critical role in shaping globally connected communities,” he said.

“This partnership creates new opportunities for Australian universities to deepen engagement with India through student exchange, institutional collaboration and shared learning, while supporting the continued growth of university sport in both countries.”

The two-year initiative will involve ongoing collaboration between UniSport Australia, Australian universities and the Association of Indian Universities to develop a bespoke structure for Indian university sport, associated governance structures and coaching development programs with further program activity and engagement opportunities to be announced throughout the partnership.

UniSport Australia acknowledged the support of the Centre for Australia-India Relations and thanked the Australian Government for its investment in strengthening collaborations between Australia and India.