Pro Vice-Chancellor appointed for VU Delhi NCR Campus

Victoria University (VU) today announced the appointment of the inaugural VU Delhi NCR Pro Vice-Chancellor ahead of the campus’ first student intake in August 2026.

Professor Karen Dodd will provide academic leadership and governance oversight for the campus, a key strategic initiative for the University. 

She comes to the VU Delhi NCR Pro Vice-Chancellor role from VU’s College of Sport, Health and Engineering where she has been leading as Executive Dean.

VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the campus represents a significant milestone in advancing VU’s global strategy and transnational education portfolio.

“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,” Professor Shoemaker said.

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 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.

“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,” she said.

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.”

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, Haryana will offer 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. 

VU was one of 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).

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. It will also open pathways to international collaboration, mobility, and research, connecting students to opportunities across Asia and Australia.