The Australia India Institute has launched a new programme to strengthen collaboration between Australia and India in sports education, research and innovation, bringing together organisations from both countries to explore opportunities for joint initiatives.
The Khel Connect Symposium begins on Monday, 12 October, at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai and online. The event will connect representatives from higher education, sport, industry and government to exchange knowledge, build professional networks and identify areas for cooperation.
The symposium is part of Khel Connect: Australia-India Sports Education and Innovation Pathways, a programme funded by the Australian Government Department of Education. It aims to strengthen bilateral ties in sports education while supporting India’s sporting ambitions and creating opportunities for collaboration between institutions and organisations in both countries.
The initiative aligns with the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the recent Australia-India Annual Summit.
Discussions at the symposium will focus on three priority areas: athlete and coach development, including high-performance support services; community sports development and adaptive physical education; and major event capability, sports business, innovation and commercialisation.
These areas provide a framework for Australian and Indian participants to explore shared challenges and consider practical ways to develop expertise, improve sporting pathways and strengthen the links between education and the sports industry.
Khel Connect is guided by an expert steering committee chaired by Dr Sheila Nguyen, who served as Head of Sustainability for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The programme has also been shaped by Sudip Chakraborty, the Australia India Institute’s Head of Cultural Diplomacy and founder of the Australian Rules Football Association of India.
Australia India Institute chief executive Lisa Singh said both countries brought distinct strengths to sports education, research and innovation.
“By connecting researchers, educators, industry leaders and sporting organisations, this symposium will help unlock new partnerships, generate practical solutions and support the next generation of sporting excellence across both nations,” Singh said.
The programme seeks to build connections across the two countries’ sporting and education sectors, with the symposium providing an opportunity to identify potential partnerships and areas for further work.
Further information about Khel Connect is available.
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