Professor Dodd joins the role from VU’s College of Sport, Health and Engineering where she is leading as Executive Dean. She will provide academic leadership and governance oversight for the campus, which is among the first international university campuses established in India under the country’s National Education Policy (NEP), a key strategic initiative for the University.

The appointment underlines the next phase of VU’s India expansion as it prepares to deliver Australian higher education locally through the globally recognised VU Block Model®.

VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said Professor Dodd’s appointment reinforces the university’s commitment to building a world-class academic institution in India.

“Karen’s leadership will be critical to successfully establishing the campus and ensuring it reflects our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education, while supporting growth in new and emerging international markets. Her invaluable contribution to VU in strengthening the College of Sport, Health and Engineering, has put it in a position for future success and this experience will be critical in setting up VU Delhi NCR,” Professor Adam Shoemaker said.

Professor Dodd will lead the delivery of VU programs in India, ensuring academic quality, regulatory compliance and a student experience aligned with the Australian campuses. She will also play an important role in strengthening partnerships, expanding VU’s presence in India.

Commenting on the development, Professor Karen Dodd said: “It’s a privilege to be appointed the first Pro Vice-Chancellor, VU India – I’m excited to be there from the beginning to see VU’s global strategy in action. Bringing the VU Block Model® to India is an incredible opportunity, and I’m sure it will be key to student academic success, as well as providing the best student experience possible,” she said.

A trained physiotherapist, Professor Dodd has enjoyed a successful career in academia, spending 26 years at La Trobe University in teaching and research, and then moving into senior leadership. In 2017, she started at Victoria University as the Dean of the then College of Health and Biomedicine.

The VU Delhi NCR campus based at Gurugram will offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses taught exclusively in the VU Block Model® across business and IT and will emulate the successful and modern design of VU’s vertical City Tower in Melbourne.

Internationally renowned, the award-winning VU Block Model® sees students’ study one subject at a time, across four-week blocks in small, workshop-style classes. VU is the first Australian university to introduce this unique learning model and remains the largest university to do so.

The Model will be adapted to the local context to support students’ success and meet the needs of the Indian market.

As one of the first Australian universities licensed by the Indian Government to establish a comprehensive campus in India, Victoria University aims to provide students with access to an internationally recognised Australian education without the cost and disruption of relocating overseas.

For students in India, the new campus means global education, locally – offering the same innovative learning model and academic excellence that has made VU a leader in student success, without the high costs of overseas study.

The campus will also open pathways to international collaboration, mobility, and research, connecting students to opportunities across Asia and Australia. The campus will also create new opportunities for international mobility, research collaboration and industry engagement across India, Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

December 04, 2025, Bengaluru: Victoria University (VU) today marked a major milestone in its global expansion plans by laying the foundation for its Delhi NCR Campus, located in Gurugram, Haryana. Once operational, it will become India’s first international campus to teach entirely through VU’s Block Model®, a modern learning approach designed to improve student success and readiness for the future. VU was among the first Australian universities granted a licence by the Indian Government to establish a comprehensive campus in India under the new National Education Policy (NEP).

Over 1.7 million Indian students score above 80 per cent in school annually, but limited access to institutions and high overseas study costs leave many without global education options.

This initiative offers VU the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to India’s human capital development. By delivering globally relevant curricula, engaging with local industries, and nurturing skilled graduates, VU can play a transformative role in the country’s educational and economic progress.

The campus is expected to open by mid-2026, launching with undergraduate and postgraduate programs in business, information technology, and research. Inspired by VU’s modern City Tower Campus in Melbourne, which was purposely-designed to teach the VU Block Model, the new India campus aims to bring high-quality Australian education closer to Indian students at an affordable cost, reducing the need for expensive overseas travel and accommodation.

Internationally renowned, the award-winning VU Block Model sees students study one subject at a time, across four-week blocks in small, workshop-style classes. VU is the first Australian university to introduce this unique learning model and remains the largest university to do so.

With a strong equity focus VU Block Model is already delivering outstanding results in Australia – undergraduate and postgraduate pass rates are high (94%) – excellent outcomes have also been achieved through student retention, progression and success.

The VU Block Model has proven particularly powerful for first-in-family and disadvantaged students, and it is internationally recognised as a breakthrough in inclusive education, with uptake in Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

The traditional lamp lighting ceremony, mango tree planting and foundation laying for what will eventually be the VU Campus in Delhi NCR, was attended by the Federal Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Julian Hill, VU Chancellor the Hon Steve Bracks, VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker, and senior government officials from India and Australia.

The Hon Julian Hill, Federal Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs said, “Victoria University is a leader in teaching, learning and the student experience, including its unique VU Block Model – and now its new campus in Gurgaon, India will connect Indian students with these innovations.”

Steve Bracks, Chancellor, Victoria University said, “This campus is about opening doors to opportunity. High overseas study costs and limited access to institutions leave many students in India without global education options – VU’s education and research offerings aim to help change that. Bringing our VU Block Model to India offers students a proven pathway to success – one that is inclusive, industry‑connected, and designed for the future.”