Hyderabad Hosts Landmark India-Australia Exchange on Sustainable Infrastructure

HYDERABAD: NICMAR University of Construction Studies (NUCS), Hyderabad, and Victoria University (VU), Melbourne, have successfully concluded a three-week international academic and cultural mobility program focused on Climate-Smart Sustainable Infrastructures.

The initiative, which ran from November 24 to December 18, 2025, was supported by the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Grant. It brought together 14 students and three faculty members from Melbourne to collaborate with 20 students from NICMAR University at its Hyderabad campus.

Academic and Industry Integration
Inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Shrikant Charhate, the program served as a practical application of the ongoing partnership between the two institutions. The curriculum featured a blend of expert lectures and technical workshops covering critical modern construction themes, including:

Pavement Design: Comparative analysis of Indian and Australian perspectives.

Advanced Technology: 4D Building Information Modelling (4D BIM) and 3D printing in construction.

Urban Development: Sustainable cities and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks.

Operations: Indian labor management and construction safety protocols.

To bridge the gap between theory and practice, students conducted field visits to several high-profile sites. These included the My Home Grava Project, the CII – Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Centre, and the Hussain Sagar Sewage Treatment Plant, where they observed real-world applications of green building and urban environmental management.

Cultural Diplomacy and Collaboration
Beyond technical training, the program emphasized cross-cultural engagement. Australian participants visited historic landmarks such as Golconda Fort, Charminar, and Rashtrapati Nilayam. To facilitate deeper local integration, NICMAR students led language sessions in Hindi and Telugu for their Australian peers.

Social bonds were further strengthened through a friendly cricket match and a student-led cultural talent show, highlighting the diversity and shared interests of both cohorts.

Strengthening Global Ties
The program concluded with a valedictory ceremony on December 17. Organizers noted that the exchange provided students with essential professional competencies and comparative insights into climate-resilient systems. The successful completion of the tour reinforces the long-term academic collaboration between India and Australia in the field of sustainable engineering and construction.