Provost of University of York Mumbai campus appointed
Posted on Monday 20 October 2025
Professor Oades will be joining the Mumbai campus from his role as Deputy Dean of the Department of Education at the University of Melbourne.
He will lead the University of York Mumbai to shape its academic reputation and strategic direction, with an initial focus on overseeing the successful launch of the campus, achieving recruitment goals, and establishing a high-quality student experience for those joining the University in 2026.
Professor Oades said: “The University of York’s vision as an institution for public good directly aligns with my lifelong commitment to the role of education in transforming lives and allowing communities to thrive.
“Combine this with the outstanding cultural vibrancy and energy of Mumbai, the potential for the University of York’s core values to make a big difference to international higher education is a truly exciting prospect.
“I very much look forward to meeting and working alongside partners, colleagues, and students in Mumbai and India, and connecting closely with those in York.”
Wellbeing education
Professor Oades is a globally respected expert in wellbeing education, wellbeing psychology, and leadership and systems transformation. He is a scholar and founder of Wellbeing Literacy - how we communicate about, and for, wellbeing. In his role at the University of Melbourne, he has established multiple partnerships with Indian institutions, including OP Jindal University and Savitribai Phule Pune University, as well as led a number of high-profile delegations to the Melbourne Global Centre in Delhi.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Charlie Jeffery, added: “Professor Oades has a deep understanding, grounded in his globally recognised work in wellbeing, for how education can be a force for good, shaping and improving lives of whole communities.
“As we head into an exciting launch year for our new campus, we are excited by his vision to create an environment that encourages curiosity, collaboration and a genuine optimism that together we can - and will - contribute to positive societal change."
Pioneering
Professor Oades has also previously held roles as Associate Dean for International, and Director of the Centre for Wellbeing Science, at the University of Melbourne. As a researcher, his work includes the pioneering Thriveability Theory, a framework advancing sustainable human flourishing through the integration of education, coaching psychology, mental health, and systems transformation.
Professor Oades has a track record of designing programmes that align policy, culture and performance, and has been awarded a citation from the Australian Government for his contribution to student learning. He was a coordinating lead author for UNESCO's International Science and Evidence Based Assessment of Education, examining the relationship between education and human flourishing.
University of York Mumbai
The University of York Mumbai will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, Business, Economics and the Creative Industries.
Programmes in emerging fields - AI, cybersecurity and the creative industries - will be designed with global industry input, boosting job readiness in high-demand sectors and opening career pathways for Indian learners.
A distinctive feature of the campus will be a strong emphasis on research from the outset. This commitment to research will underpin teaching and the student experience, but also contribute significantly to India’s growing demand and drive for research development and innovation in areas such as food security, environmental change and future technologies.
