The Minister, Vice-Chancellors and senior university sector leaders including Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson will meet with the Indian Government and research sector.

The Indian Minister for Human Resources Development Ramesh Pokhriyal will host a number of events with Minister Tehan, including visits to institutions, workshops and a bilateral roundtable.

Ms Jackson said there were many fields of collaborative research of great importance to both Australia and India – including agriculture and water security.

“By working together on these types of research, we can help local communities in Australia and India to tackle challenges with water supply and usage, and food and farm production,” she said.

“As India reshapes its strategic priorities with a draft new National Education Policy, Australian universities want to work with Indian institutions to see what further opportunities we can explore.”

“There are many research areas of great mutual interest to both Australia and India – and they have potential to change the lives of everyday people in both of our countries in profoundly important ways.”

Australia has a strong contingent of Indian students studying in our universities, with India the second largest source country among our diverse international student population.

These students make a valuable contribution to our universities and broader communities.

Students also benefit from a variety of PhD twinning programs between institutions of our two countries, and more than 5000 Australian students have travelled to India on the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants during the past five years.

“This type of program deepens students’ understanding and appreciation of other cultures, and are a foundation for enduring friendships and bilateral ties.”

Many of Australia’s universities have well-established engagement with Indian partners, having worked to build these relationships throughout the past decade.

This visit will consolidate these targeted partnerships and also support the broader connections between the Australian and Indian higher education and research sectors.

“Australian universities welcome this opportunity to build on our well-established education and research connections between Australian and Indian researchers,” Ms Jackson said.

“While some universities have already built strong ties with India, we think there is further scope to broaden and augment these connections across the entire university sector.”