India, Australia sign agreements to promote research, academic collaborations

NEW DELHI: India and Australia signed a framework mechanism for mutual recognition of qualifications that aims to help and ease the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries. The agreement was signed at a bilateral meeting between union education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan and his Australian counterpart, Jason Clare.

Nearly 11 institutional-level agreements were exchanged between India and Australia's university sectors with the goal to promote research and academic collaborations between the two countries in fields ranging from bio-innovation to law to industry solutions. The Australian government will also be contributing 1.89 million dollars to run agricultural skill development programmes in India.

Also Read | India-Australia visit to boost higher education sector, deepen engagements to empower youth

"Australia and India are aligned to making the knowledge pillar a key aspect of the bilateral relationship. Both the countries agreed to create new frameworks of partnership to take our bilateral relations to new heights," Dharmendra Pradhan said at a press conference.

Pradhan further emphasised that such developments will create more opportunities for two-way mobility of students and professionals for education and employment. Union education minister also informed that the scope of Australia India Education Council (AIEC) has been widened to also include cooperation in skill development.

The developments today will create more opportunities for two-way mobility, empower citizens and pave the way for making education the biggest enabler in taking India-Australia bilateral relationship to greater heights.

It will also add vigour to realising shared aspirations. pic.twitter.com/djBetvddlk

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) March 2, 2023

Also Read | University of Wollongong, Deakin University to set up campuses in Gujarat's GIFT city: Dharmendra Pradhan

Clare said the agreement will help Indian and Australian students to study in each other’s countries and also provide recognition to various levels of education and skill qualifications. Clare further reiterated that the Australian universities are enthusiastic to work with their Indian counterparts through the mechanism of joint, dual degrees or twinning of institutes.

Both the sides sides also discussed issues like promoting student mobility and enhancing research and academic collaborations between Indian and Australian universities through the mechanism of joint, dual and twinning degrees that have been introduced recently under the NEP. Meanwhile, a delegation led by Clare also participated in a round table in UGC today to discuss initiatives for internationalization of education under NEP 2020 today.

Both the sides sides also discussed issues like promoting student mobility and enhancing research and academic collaborations between Indian and Australian universities through the mechanism of joint, dual and twinning degrees that have been introduced recently under National Education Policy 2020. Meanwhile, a delegation led by Clare also participated in a round table at the University Grants Commission (UGC) today to discuss initiatives for internationalization of education under NEP 2020 today.