Swinburne, a top-ranking Melbourne university, now has a location in Parramatta offering Masters programs, via its partnership with ECA.

Gavin Dowling, chief operating officer at the company, told The PIE News, “Despite being a retired cricketer, Lara still has a huge brand and is immediately known to any cricket fan…which in the Indian subcontinent is just about everyone. So, even the 20 year-old students know very well who the legendary BL is.”

Lara gave a speech at the launch event and offered a Q&A session afterwards.

“His life story is quite amazing,” related Dowling. “He came from nothing and had a self-belief which propelled him forward. He broke records and had an amazing cricketing career.”

The founder of ECA, Rupesh Singh, is from India himself originally and the company has strong links throughout south Asia.

“We expect to have [Lara] as an ongoing ambassador for the brand – he’s so personable, modest and inspiring for young people that we feel the fit is just right,” revealed Dowling.

ECA also works with Victoria University in Australia and operates campuses for that institution in Sydney and Ahmedabad, India as well as running a number of other vocational, English language teaching and internship businesses.