Australia and India have signed a Framework Mechanism for Mutual Recognition of Qualifications that will help ease the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries. The agreement was signed following a bilateral meeting in New Delhi between Education Minister Jason Clare and India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The signing of the G-to-G mechanism for mutual recognition of qualifications, the announcement of the IEIF Critical Skills Project and 11 institutional MoUs mark a landmark moment in educational relations between India and Australia. These developments will create more opportunities for two-way mobility of students and professionals for the purpose of education and employment, and pave the way for making education the biggest enabler in taking India-Australia bilateral relationship to greater heights to realise shared aspirations.
These agreements are part of the commitment by the Prime Ministers of both countries at the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit held on 21st March 2022, wherein they had agreed to establish a Joint Taskforce for mutual recognition of qualifications.
Highlights:
- India and Australia sign a Framework Mechanism for Mutual Recognition of Qualifications
- Institutional-level MOUs exchanged between India and Australia’s university sectors to promote research and academic collaborations
- The scope of the Australia India Education Council widened to also include cooperation in skill development
Addressing the joint media briefing, Education Minister Mr Jason Clare said that Australia is very keen to broaden the partnership between the two countries in the field of education as well as skilling.
He further added that the agreement signed will make it easier for students to study in each other’s countries and also provide recognition to various levels of education and skill qualifications.
Appreciating the National Education Policy brought out by India, Minister Clare said that it is breathtaking in scope and will transform India by giving a big push to jobs, businesses, and economic productivity and creating opportunities in all areas.
“The target of providing 50% of its youth with either higher education or skill education by 2035 and Australia would be privileged to partner with India in this program.”
“The Australian Universities are enthusiastic to work with their Indian counterparts through the mechanism of joint/dual degrees or twinning of institutes that has been recently facilitated under NEP2020,”
Minister Clare added.
Indian Education Minister Pradhan said that Australia and India are aligned to making the knowledge pillar a key aspect of the bilateral relationship. He informed that both countries agreed to create new frameworks of partnership to take bilateral relations to new heights.
He expressed his happiness that, as suggested by India, the scope of the Australia India Education Council (AIEC) has been widened to also include cooperation in skill development. Minister Pradhan also invited Minister Clare for the 7th Australia India Education and Skill Council (AIESC) meeting to be held in September and for the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in June this year.
Earlier, a ‘Task Force’ was accordingly set up consisting of senior officials of education and skill ministries and regulators on both sides. It has come up with a comprehensive mechanism that covers both the education and skill qualifications of the two countries and will help facilitate the two-way mobility of young people for education and employment purposes by mutually recognising various levels of education and skill qualifications.
Both Ministers had good conversations on further deepening long-standing bilateral relations, invigorating vibrant partnerships and boosting engagements in education, skill development, deep-tech research and areas of mutual interest.
Minister Clare reiterated that Australia wants to take forward the depth and seriousness of the relationship between the two countries by fostering partnerships in the education sector.
Replying to media queries, Minister Clare said that the Australian government will be contributing 1.89 million dollars for running a skills programme in India in the area of agriculture which is a critical sector for India. He further informed that Australia is working on a top priority basis to clear the pendency of education visas for Indian students.
He expressed his gratitude to Minister Pradhan for the kind welcome and hospitality and said that he looks forward to their meeting later in the year.
In the bilateral meeting, the two 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/ Twinning degrees that have been brought in recently under NEP2020.
In recent years, Australia has become one of the preferred destinations for Indian students for pursuing higher studies, and even more so for gaining vocational skills. There are talks to facilitate more Australian students to come to India especially for both short and longer-term study, internships and research.
Australia is also a key partner in skill development and vocational training and both countries are working together on capacity building and training, identifying opportunities in key sectors for closer skill cooperation with a particular focus on new-age courses as per the changing needs and demographics across both the Nations.
Following NEP 2020, India has come up with new initiatives for promoting the internationalisation of education and a draft regulation for setting up campuses of foreign universities in India. In addition, GIFT City in Gujarat has been opened up to foreign universities free from domestic regulations. Australian universities are actively exploring establishing campuses in GIFT City.
A number of institutional-level MOUs were also exchanged between India and Australia’s university sectors today, which will promote research and academic collaborations between the two countries in several key sectors. The higher education sectors of both India and Australia are excited to partner with each other as evidenced by the large delegation from Australia. These institutions are driving the bilateral cooperation between India and Australia across a wide range of fields – from bio-innovation to law to industry solutions.
Education Minister Jason Clare is visiting India with a large delegation of vice-chancellors of key Australian universities, five peak groups and a regulator.
La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Dewar AO is part of the delegation. The University has signed three major agreements.
- Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre – Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
- Lady Shri Ram College – Signing of Letter of Support and renewal of Student Mobility Agreement
- Jindal Global Law School – Signing of Articulation Agreement Juris Doctor
Minister Clare and his delegation also interacted with leading education businesses and industry representatives at an event organised by FICCI. The visiting Australian Vice Chancellors participated in a round table to discuss “The changing face of higher education in India: Future directions and opportunities”. They also participated in a round table in UGC today to discuss initiatives for the internationalisation of education under NEP 2020 today.
Minister Clare and his team also visited Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Delhi Cantt. Former Australian cricket captain Adam Gilchrist was also a part of the delegation. The Minister and his team interacted with students at both institutions, played a friendly cricket match at the college, saw some innovations from school students in the Atal Tinkering Lab at Kendriya Vidyalaya and savoured cultural performances by students.
The two ministers also visited India Gate together the night. They took a walk through Kartavya Path and saw the Australian Dominion Column outside North Block which was gifted by Australia to India. It features a wattle blossom and has “Australia to India MCMXXX” inscribed on it. It is one of the four columns presented by dominions under the British Empire as a symbol of friendship and unity.
Minister Clare and Minister Pradhan reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing institutional collaboration and two-way mobility by exploring the delivery of transnational education in the higher education, skills and research sectors.
