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

NEW DELHI: Australian education minister Jason Clare will today sign “the broadest and most favourable recognition agreement” with India to enhance student mobility between both countries. The minister along with officials of 21 Australian universities have come to India on a four-day visit to discuss collaboration between the two nations in the education sector.

“The visit provides an important opportunity for Australian universities to showcase new partnerships and plans which they can deliver in India, including opportunities for joint degrees and campuses,” Jason Clare said in a statement.

On the first day, the Australian education minister will be participating in an event at Delhi University's Venkateswara College. The DU college is organising a programme on the theme “Deepening Ties through Two-Way Mobility” today.

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The visit comes a year after Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited Australia to promote institutional partnerships.

"Minister Pradhan and I will sign the Mechanism for the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications which locks in the rules for mutual recognition to access education in both our countries," Jason Clare said.

University of Wollongong’s initiative with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is a good example of a partnership which builds skills and capacity to tackle future challenges, he added.

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The delegation will comprise Australian Vice-Chancellors and other higher-education leaders, including those representing institutions such as the University of Queensland, RMIT University, Australian National University, University of Sydney La Trobe University, University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, Central Queensland University, University of NSW, University of South Australia and the Charles Darwin University.