Partnerships with Leading Universities

Education has always been at the heart of Asha’s vision for breaking the cycle of poverty. For young people growing up in Delhi’s slum communities, the opportunity to attend a world leading university can transform not only an individual life but also the future of an entire family and community.

Over the past decade, Asha has built deep partnerships with three of Australia’s leading universities: the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, and the University of Melbourne. These collaborations are founded on shared values of equity, excellence, inclusion, and social justice. Together, we are creating opportunities for exceptional young people who have overcome extraordinary challenges to pursue postgraduate education on the global stage.

Today, thirteen Asha graduates have received fully funded scholarships to study in Australia, with graduates returning as professionals, researchers, and leaders who are helping shape India’s future. Others continue to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees, demonstrating that talent can flourish when opportunity is made accessible.

More than scholarship programmes, these partnerships represent enduring relationships built on trust, mutual respect, academic collaboration, and a shared belief that education has the power to change lives across generations.

University of Sydney

The partnership between Asha and the University of Sydney began in 2019 with the launch of the Sydney Scholars India Equity Scholarship, a pioneering initiative that has created opportunities for exceptional young people from Delhi’s slum communities to pursue postgraduate education at one of the world’s leading universities.

The first scholarship was awarded to Abhishek Handa from Asha’s Peeragarhi community. Since then, the partnership has enabled a growing number of Asha graduates to complete Master’s degrees in diverse disciplines including Public Health, Finance, and Strategic Public Relations. Another scholar will commence studies in 2027, continuing this remarkable journey.

Beyond scholarships, the partnership has developed into a vibrant exchange of ideas and learning. University leaders have visited Asha’s communities to engage with students and families, while Dr. Kiran Martin has delivered lectures and participated in academic discussions at the University, sharing Asha’s community led model of development with students and faculty.

In 2023, the University of Sydney recognised Dr. Kiran Martin’s outstanding contribution to healthcare, education, and social justice by conferring upon her the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa). The partnership was renewed in 2026, reaffirming a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunities for future generations.

Today, the University of Sydney and Asha continue to demonstrate how international collaboration can open doors that once seemed beyond reach, creating globally educated leaders who remain deeply committed to serving their communities.

University of Queensland

Established in 2020, the partnership between Asha and the University of Queensland reflects a shared belief that higher education should be accessible to talented young people regardless of their economic background.

Through the University of Queensland Asha Scholarship Programme, outstanding graduates from Delhi’s slum communities have been able to pursue postgraduate studies in Australia, opening pathways that were once unimaginable. The University’s long term commitment was reaffirmed through the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2026, ensuring that many more students will benefit in the years ahead.

The partnership extends far beyond financial support. Senior University leaders have visited Asha’s communities to meet students, families, and community leaders, gaining firsthand insight into Asha’s work and the remarkable journeys of its young people. Likewise, Asha has engaged with the University through lectures, strategic discussions, and collaborative initiatives that continue to strengthen this unique relationship.

Together, the University of Queensland and Asha are nurturing future leaders whose achievements demonstrate that determination and ability are never limited by poverty, only by access to opportunity.

University of Melbourne

The partnership between Asha and the University of Melbourne is one of the longest standing international collaborations in Asha’s history. For more than fifteen years, the relationship has been built on shared values of educational equity, research, community engagement, and social justice.

The partnership has contributed significantly to advancing global understanding of community-led development. Collaborative research undertaken through the University’s Nossal Institute for Global Health documented Asha’s holistic model and its long term impact, helping establish Asha as an internationally recognised example of sustainable urban development.

In 2023, the relationship entered a new chapter with the establishment of the University of Melbourne Asha Scholarship Programme, creating postgraduate opportunities for outstanding young leaders from Delhi’s slum communities. The University’s support also extends to doctoral education, with Asha scholars completing and pursuing PhD studies.

The relationship was further strengthened when the University of Melbourne awarded Dr. Kiran Martin the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to public health, women’s empowerment, education, and community development.

Today, the University of Melbourne and Asha continue to build a partnership that combines academic excellence with social purpose, inspiring young people to become global citizens while remaining committed to improving the lives of others.