High-level TU Leoben delegation visits Delhi to boost Indo-Austria educational collaboration

2026-02-10 11:47:46 Education

A high-level delegation of 30 members from the Technical University (TU) of Leoben (Montanuniversität Leoben) in Austria visited New Delhi on 7 February 2026 to strengthen
Indo-Austrian collaboration in higher education, research, and academic mobility, facilitated through a strategic tie-up with VFS Education Services. The visit is part of the ‘Focus India’ initiative of the Technical University of Leoben and TU Austria to educate the key professionals of tomorrow – and to strengthen Austria’s industrial competitiveness.

The delegation, led by Ms. Susanne Feiel, Director International Relations and European University; and Mr. Clemens Weihs, Team Lead Strategic Partnerships, engaged with key Indian academic institutions, education stakeholders, and policymakers to exchange best practices and identify pathways to enhance cross-border educational cooperation. As part of the visit, the delegation also unveiled the new
VFS Education Services brochure, highlighting the organisation’s expanded offerings and commitment to
enabling international education pathways.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Susanne Feiel, Director International Relations and European University, TU Leoben, said, “India is a vital partner for TU Leoben as we look to expand our global academic footprint. This visit reflects our strong commitment to building meaningful collaborations with Indian institutions, fostering student and faculty exchanges, and jointly advancing research in areas of shared strategic importance. The support of VFS Education Services enables us to explore these opportunities in a structured and effective manner.

Mr. Anirudh Singh, COO – Education Services & Migration Services, VFS Global, said, “India and Austria share a strong foundation for academic collaboration, and we thank TU Leoben for its strong
commitment to strengthening education ties with India. This visit marks an important step towards
creating sustainable education and mobility frameworks that benefit students, institutions, and industry alike. Through this engagement, VFS Education Services is pleased to support structured collaboration that enables meaningful and long-term academic partnerships.”

The collaboration between TU Leoben and VFS Education Services has already demonstrated tangible outcomes. VFS Education Services has facilitated the enrolment of around 60 students for the March 2026 batch at TU Leoben, and about 100 student enrolments are in process for the October 2026 batch, reflecting strong demand for Austrian higher education and the effectiveness of structured education facilitation

This public-private partnership aims to support Indo-Austrian mobility for talented and deserving engineering and technology students. It is specifically designed for students from recognised colleges,
providing them with access to quality higher education in Austrian Technical Universities. On the other hand, this initiative aims to strengthen Austria’s human capital by attracting skilled talent in fields where they can make positive contribution to the Austrian economy.

The programme comprises a two-year Master’s degree, entailing theory as well as industry work experience as part of the course component. The Universities will also support on-campus placements and career open day engagements with industry experts. As part of the academic programme, the students will be eligible for a one-year post study visa extension upon graduation, supporting their transition into the international workforce.

Eligible students interested in pursuing a Master’s degree at Austria’s leading Technical Universities can submit their B-Tech degree certificates and academic transcripts to, austria@vfsedu.com. The selection process is comprehensive, evaluating candidates based on academic performance, English language proficiency, one-on-one assessments, and document verification.

To ensure a seamless and student-centric experience, VFS Education Services has introduced a robust digital admissions portal (Vfsedu.com) with real-time data capture, enabling support to students right from initial outreach through to pre-departure guidance.

About VFS Education Services

VFS Education Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of VFS Global, a globally recognised leader in trusted technology services, guided by the principles of integrity, transparency, and efficiency—values inherited from our Swiss heritage under the Kuoni Group, a key shareholder of VFS Global from its inception.

For more than two decades, VFS Education Services has helped over 35,000 students and families seeking overseas education and upskilling, through several initiatives, endeavours and customised suite of solutions, across key markets such as Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Serviced by over 300 staff members, and operating with the same values of integrity, transparency, and operational excellence that positioned VFS Global as a leader in trusted technology services, the company is dedicated to “Serving Students Globally” by simplifying access to international education, ensuring it is safer and more attainable for aspiring students.

This commitment is supported and reinforced by the VFS Global Academy, the training and capability building division of VFS Global. The Academy aims to develop future talent in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors through a learner-centric and industry-aligned curriculum. With operations in India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—and plans to expand into China and Sri Lanka—the Academy provides industry-aligned training and fully paid internships with a 95% placement rate.

With an expanding global presence and extensive expertise in cross-border mobility, especially in emerging destinations like Austria, Germany and the rest of Europe the company offers comprehensive solutions for both students and educational institutions. These include university admissions and application support, exhaustive student visa assistance, pre-departure briefings, and additional services such as accommodation, insurance, foreign exchange, banking, document verification, translation, apostille services, digital lockers for academic records, as well as strategic partnerships with universities, agents, and educational platforms.

About VFS Global

As the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure mobility for governments and citizens, VFS Global embraces technological innovation, including Generative AI, to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.

With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritises ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 69 client governments. Operating over 4,000 Application Centres in 166 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 528 million transactions* since 2001.

Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, VFS Global is majority owned by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, along with minority shareholders including Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation, Singapore based Temasek and UAE based Dubai Holdings.

*Comprised of 332 million transactions by VFS Global and 196 million transactions by CiX Citizen Experience