Speaking at the third meeting of the Australia-India Ministerial Dialogue on Education Cooperation in India, Universities Australia Chief Executive Belinda Robinson said: “It is clear that both countries see education and research as a core component of the strategic partnership and are committed to making progress on a number of key initiatives.

“Particularly, the announcement by the Indian Minister of Human Resource Development, the Hon Smriti Zubin Irani, that the Government will give recognition to pathway/foundation courses is great news for both countries.

“Once Minister Irani’s announcement is implemented, Indian students studying in Australia in pathway programs will have access to the Indian public service and further study at an Indian institution.”

Universities Australia also welcomed the recommitment by Ministers Pyne and Irani to the Australia India Education Council (the AIEC) as the principal body for guiding the strategic direction of this important partnership.

“The AIEC has been instrumental in progressing collaborative work in the critical areas of skills and employment, student mobility and welfare, higher education and research, quality assurance and qualifications recognition, and learning and teaching,” Ms Robinson said.

Other positive developments include the announcement by Minister Pyne of a feasibility study for the establishment of an Australia-India consortium for ‘in-country’ India studies and the agreement by the Group of Eight universities and a number of prestigious Indian schools to pursue a series of joint activities and long-term engagement.

Additionally, the Global Initiative for Academic Networks launched by the Government of India, to enable eminent Australia academics to travel to India to exchange knowledge and teaching skills, further supports the expansion of the Australia-India education and research relationship.

“We look forward to seeing the commitment to vigorously pursue mutual understanding and cooperation on qualifications recognition being reflected in the negotiations and the final outcome of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperative Agreement,” Ms Robinson said.

“Progress made over the past few days, due to the efforts of Ministers Irani and Pyne, and their Government officials, is testament to the respect and regard that the Governments of India and Australia have for each other and their shared view that education and research is central to economic and social progress.”

You can access the joint communique at: http://australiaindiaeducation.com/bilateral-agreements.html