Australian University's groundwater initiative transforms 20,000 Indian villages

Western Sydney University's work on the MARVI project in India has reached over 3 lakh households in more than 20,000 villages across seven states. The project focuses on improving groundwater use and irrigation security through local management. In Rajasthan's Dharta watershed, the Village Groundwater Cooperative model, based on the '4S' approach -- Scrutiny, Store, Share, Sustain—is helping farmers manage shared water resources.advertisementThe university is also training NGOs, government staff, and water professionals, supporting long-term water management and capacity building. These efforts contributed to Western Sydney's 9th place global ranking for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.Vice-Chancellor Professor George Williams described the repeated ranking success as proof of the university's role in delivering public good and effective community partnerships. He emphasised that the ranking measures real-world outcomes -- not just academic metrics
.Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott also praised the MARVI program, highlighting its focus on female groundwater volunteers, known as Bhujal Jaankars, and its support for women-led water cooperatives.She said the program empowers farmers to make informed crop choices based on water availability, reinforcing both community engagement and skill development.\HOW DID UNIVERSITY PERFORMadvertisement4th worldwide for SDG15 (Life on Land)7th for SDG5 (Gender Equality)8th for SDG13 (Climate Action) and SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)9th for SDGs 17,6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 11 (Sustainable Cities)10th for SDG14 (Life Below Water) and SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)The THE Impact Rankings assess universities on teaching, research, operations, policy, and outreach -- all tied to positive societal and environmental workThis year's No.1 positioning underscores Western Sydney University's position at the forefront of universities applying knowledge to service communities and the planet.

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India Today

7 hours ago

• India Today

Australian University's groundwater initiative transforms 20,000 Indian villages

Western Sydney University's work on the MARVI project in India has reached over 3 lakh households in more than 20,000 villages across seven states. The project focuses on improving groundwater use and irrigation security through local management. In Rajasthan's Dharta watershed, the Village Groundwater Cooperative model, based on the '4S' approach -- Scrutiny, Store, Share, Sustain—is helping farmers manage shared water university is also training NGOs, government staff, and water professionals, supporting long-term water management and capacity building. These efforts contributed to Western Sydney's 9th place global ranking for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in the latest Times Higher Education Impact Professor George Williams described the repeated ranking success as proof of the university's role in delivering public good and effective community partnerships. He emphasised that the ranking measures real-world outcomes -- not just academic metrics .Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott also praised the MARVI program, highlighting its focus on female groundwater volunteers, known as Bhujal Jaankars, and its support for women-led water said the program empowers farmers to make informed crop choices based on water availability, reinforcing both community engagement and skill development.\HOW DID UNIVERSITY PERFORMadvertisement4th worldwide for SDG15 (Life on Land)7th for SDG5 (Gender Equality)8th for SDG13 (Climate Action) and SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)9th for SDGs 17,6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 11 (Sustainable Cities)10th for SDG14 (Life Below Water) and SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)The THE Impact Rankings assess universities on teaching, research, operations, policy, and outreach -- all tied to positive societal and environmental workThis year's No.1 positioning underscores Western Sydney University's position at the forefront of universities applying knowledge to service communities and the planet.

Hans India

a day ago

• Hans India

Western Sydney beats the world four years in a row for community impact

Bengaluru: For an unprecedented fourth year in a row, Western Sydney University has emerged as the world's number one university for community impact awarded by the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. The University outranked 2,300 international universities in the evaluation process. The University's deep-rooted commitment to improve lives and safeguard the planet through local and global initiatives is gaining huge recognition across markets. Spotlighting India's MARVI (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention) project – a collaboration between the University and its valued partners, the transformative community-led program has been commendable. The mission works on improving the security of irrigation water supplies and enhancing livelihood opportunities for rural communities. The project has reached over 3 lakh households in over 20,000 Indian villages across seven states in India. Farmers in Rajasthan's Dharta watershed discuss their Village Groundwater Cooperative, a pioneering initiative for shared groundwater management. Developed by the MARVI project, it empowers communities to implement "4S" strategies: Scrutiny, Store, Share, and Sustain groundwater at the village level. This collaborative model is being considered for broader adoption across India and Southeast Asia for water security. Photo Credit: Distinguished Professor Basant Maheshwari The University is also actively involved in educating and training NGOs, government agencies, and Indian water professionals working directly on the ground, as part of our commitment to delivering world-class education and supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, 'Our University is youthful, diverse, dynamic and entrepreneurial. We reflect our community locally and globally, and we are part of it. These rankings recognise the work we are doing together to take Western Sydney – and our wider global partnerships – to the next level. We can all be proud of this result. Our mission is to ensure our students are successful, our teaching and research have impact, and we are contributing to stronger communities.'' Highlighting the University's impactful work in India, Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, said, 'By training local women as Bhujal Jaankars – ground water informed volunteers – and promoting female leadership in village cooperatives, MARVI is helping communities make informed choices about which crops to plant based on the availability of water. As one of our flagship community-led projects in the region, Western Sydney University is deeply invested in this project. We are also committed to delivering world-class education that aligns with India's skill needs.' Sharing his perspective on this landmark achievement, Professor Williams says, 'Western Sydney University is showing the world the way. Universities around the world are being urged to return to their primary role as public sector organisations delivering public good. The Impact Rankings recognise that Western Sydney University is the world's best at delivering public good in the communities we serve. It's in our DNA.' Western Sydney University works in partnership with communities in Western Sydney and globally including in India and its offshore locations in Indonesia and Vietnam to deliver on its commitment to the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rankings assess what universities are doing to improve lives based on the SDGs and assess our research, teaching, campus operations, policies and community engagement and outreach. These include climate action, gender equality, ending poverty, providing affordable and clean energy, reducing inequality, industry innovation and producing sustainable cities and communities. In addition to the overall world number one ranking, the University was highly ranked in the following categories: . 4th in the world for SDG 15 Life on Land . 7th in the world for SDG 5 Gender Equality . 8th in the world for SDG 13 Climate Action and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production . 9th in the world for SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. .10th in the world for SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting their real-world social and environmental impact. Unlike traditional rankings, they recognise institutions for driving positive change in areas like health, education, and climate action.

The Hindu

01-06-2025

• The Hindu

Scholarship camp for higher education evokes good response in Nagapattinam

In a move to bridge the accessibility gap in higher education, the Nagapattinam district administration conducted a first-of-its-kind Scholarship Awareness Camp under the District Education Empowerment Programme (DEEP). The initiative brought together over 250 government school students and several NGOs offering educational sponsorships. The camp, held earlier this week, had 253 targeted students from economically and socially vulnerable backgrounds — first-generation learners, orphans, children of single parents, and students with disabilities — many of whom were unaware that higher education could be a viable option. The event prompted reflection among NGOs. 'We have already paid college fees for 11 students here. This was an eye-opener,' said S. Rajinikanth, who represented M.N. Gayathri Charities, VRCF, and SEEDS. 'We usually get polished online applications from urban areas. But here, students struggled with forms, some using basic phones. It reminded us who really needs support.' He said the district-level coordination made the process more efficient. 'Normally, we verify applications door to door. This time, the administration itself brought us verified students —saving time and ensuring trust. If every district did this, thousands more could benefit.' Some NGOs said the experience pushed them to consider more inclusive practices such as making their scholarship portals Tamil-friendly or introducing offline applications. The day saw 483 applications submitted by 200 students, with guidance from 42 trained volunteers from Talent Quest India and TNAU Kilvelur. Each NGO had 10 minutes to present its eligibility criteria. Speaking to The Hindu, District Collector P. Akash said: 'Most NGOs focus their efforts in urban centres like Chennai and Coimbatore. Districts like Nagapattinam are often overlooked because students don't apply online. So we reversed the model — we brought the NGOs to the students.' 'We didn't just inform them about scholarships — they applied on the spot,' he said and added that many NGOs had promised continued support, including assistance with admissions, tuition, and hostel fees.