Official visits

Welcoming visitors to the University of Sydney

The Official Visits Program manages delegations from international academic institutions, research organisations and governments agencies, to strengthen our global collaborations and strategic research interests.

Delegations and international visits hosted by the Office of Global and Research Engagement are typically for diplomatic and partnership development purposes. Visitors seeking to give academic lectures or engage in discipline-specific meetings are encouraged to identify an academic host. Please feel free to consult our Office about such engagements by emailing official.visits@sydney.edu.au.

Official visits make an important contribution to our culture, shared experiences and thinking, and help us to develop sustainable collaborative relationships. We welcome visitors both in person on campus, as well as virtually.

We encourage representatives of international universities, research organisations and government bodies to request an official visit to the University of Sydney by filling out the Official Visit Request Form at least four weeks (20 business days) prior to the proposed visit date.

Recent visits

On 14 August 2023, we had the honour of hosting Professor Huai JinPeng, Minister of Education of the People's Republic of China, to explore boundless opportunities to enhance education and research exchange between our nations.

In August 2023, we were delighted to welcome a distinguished delegation of Vice-Chancellors from top Indian universities – a wonderful opportunity for cross-cultural collaboration and knowledge exchange.

In May 2023, we partnered with the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre to host the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia and a large delegation of Indonesian universities for fruitful discussions on strengthening bilateral ties between Australia and Indonesia. We also co-organised a public talk by the Honourable Dr Siswo Pramono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia and the Republic of Vanuatu, on economic growth in ASEAN.

In May 2023, we welcomed a high-level delegation of leaders from Vietnam and from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss strategic issues, regional dynamics and the role of Australia-Vietnam cooperation. This visit was particularly exciting in the context of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, and we look forward to announcing exciting new developments for the University’s engagement with Vietnam.

On 30 March 2023, we hosted a delegation of some of India's most senior and influential climate and energy leaders to learn more about climate policy developments in India and work together towards a better future. Partnering with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Centre for Climate & Environmental Law, we also hosted a seminar to discuss everything from the climate crisis and greenhouse gases to net zero and clean energy.

On 16 March 2023, we were thrilled to renew our Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Following the Prime Minister’s and the Vice-Chancellor's recent visit to India, this marked a significant milestone in our efforts to reinforce our strategic, research, education and people-to-people ties with India.

In March 2023, we welcomed a large high-level delegation from the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, bringing together more than 50 researchers from both our countries to spark new ideas and solve global challenges, from cancer research to digital science, neuroscience, sustainable energy development, and more.

Visit criteria

The Office of Global and Research Engagement may facilitate short-term visits (one day or less) that meet at least one of the following criteria:

The visit involves senior leadership from international peer universities or government organisations that have significant existing partnerships with the University of Sydney, such as student exchange, research, or other forms of academic collaboration.
Meetings requested involve multiple units on campus and extend beyond one academic unit or department. Visit requests with a specific, singular scholarly interest or collaboration should be directed to the relevant University of Sydney Unit/Faculty/School).
The delegation involves high-ranking government officials representing country leadership (i.e., Minister of Education, ambassador, head of state).
Visitors have requested to meet with senior leadership, including the Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, or Pro Vice-Chancellors.

Please note there are periods when faculty and staff have limited availability. Visits cannot be scheduled during university holidays, and stakeholders may be less available from mid-December to early February. Please refer to the Academic Calendar and contact us for more information.

Please understand that due to a high volume of demand, the University of Sydney is not able to accommodate all visit requests, nor all requests to meet with leadership. We appreciate your interest and thank you for your kind understanding.