VFS Global Academy has launched a new education and training centre in Sydney through a partnership with Wellington Education Group (WEG), creating additional learning opportunities for students, graduates and working professionals interested in careers across travel, tourism, hospitality and customer service.
The launch was marked by an inauguration ceremony at Sydney Town Hall, where representatives from the education sector, industry, government and VFS Global leadership gathered to celebrate the initiative. The event also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between VFS Global Academy and Wellington Education Group, formalising their collaboration to deliver industry-focused training in Australia.
The partnership aims to connect education with practical workplace requirements by helping learners develop the technical knowledge, professional skills and customer service capabilities sought by employers in travel and hospitality-related industries.
Senior representatives attending the launch included Amit Saincher, Head of VFS Global Education, Skilling and Mobility; Lilian Meng, Associate Vice President for China and Mongolia at VFS Global, who also oversees Education, Skilling and Mobility for the Asia-Pacific region; and Kellen Chen, Executive Director of Wellington Education Group in Sydney.
Under the agreement, Wellington Education Group will play a key role in supporting the Academy’s local operations. Its responsibilities include student recruitment and engagement, providing an online learning platform, arranging the infrastructure needed for training delivery and promoting the programmes across the Australian market.
The collaboration is designed to make industry-oriented education more accessible to learners seeking practical preparation for employment. By combining training delivery and student support with VFS Global’s international experience, the partners intend to create learning pathways that respond to the changing needs of customer-facing industries.
Amit Saincher said the Sydney launch represented an important step in the Academy’s effort to build stronger connections between education and industry. He noted that the partnership would focus on equipping students and young professionals with skills relevant to the evolving travel, tourism and hospitality sectors, while supporting employability and long-term career development.
Kellen Chen said Wellington Education Group was pleased to work with VFS Global Academy to bring the initiative to Sydney. He emphasised the importance of connecting classroom learning with real-world industry requirements and preparing learners for an increasingly international workforce.
Chen also highlighted the complementary experience of the two organisations, describing the partnership as a foundation for developing practical training opportunities, strengthening professional capabilities and supporting career progression. He said the collaboration was intended to build a long-term relationship with potential benefits for learners and industry professionals in Australia and beyond.
The Sydney Academy is expected to cater to students, recent graduates and people already working in relevant industries who want to improve their professional prospects. Its programmes are intended to cover both technical and soft skills, helping participants prepare for workplace expectations, customer interactions and professional environments that increasingly require cross-cultural communication.
The launch forms part of VFS Global Academy’s wider expansion in education and talent development. Established in 2023, the Academy focuses on vocational learning and professional development for the travel, tourism, hospitality and service sectors. Its approach combines academic instruction, practical exposure and workplace-oriented skills development to help learners prepare for employment in an interconnected global economy.
According to the supplied announcement, the Academy’s network now extends across five countries: India, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia. Its listed locations include several Indian cities, as well as Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Ajman in the UAE and Sydney in Australia.
Wellington Education Group, meanwhile, operates as an Australia-based education organisation that works with institutions and industry stakeholders to provide learning and professional development opportunities. Through its role in the new partnership, WEG will contribute local training infrastructure, digital learning support and student engagement to help deliver the Sydney Academy’s programmes.
The launch comes as travel, tourism and hospitality businesses continue to rely on employees who can combine technical knowledge with strong communication, problem-solving and customer service skills. Industry-focused training can help learners understand workplace expectations and build capabilities relevant to customer-facing roles, although individual career outcomes will depend on the programmes offered and each learner’s circumstances.
With the Sydney Academy now launched, VFS Global and Wellington Education Group are seeking to establish a platform for practical learning and professional development in Australia. The partnership’s progress will depend on programme delivery, student participation and how effectively its training opportunities connect learners with the needs of the industry.
