Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said: “India is one of Australia’s key partners in international education, with more than 90,000 Indian higher education students studying in Australia prior to the pandemic.”

“India remains our second largest source of international students in 2022, accounting for more than 16 per cent of our student visa holders.”

“This is an important and positive step forward, and Universities Australia looks forward to progress in achieving mutual qualification recognition.”

Ms Jackson said qualification recognition has long been an area of importance for Australia with a recent parliamentary inquiry exploring Australia’s ratification of the ‘Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education’.

“Qualification recognition between Australia and India is important for Indian and Australian students.”

“We would expect that microcredentials will also be on the table. The bite-sized credentials are critical to upskill and reskill, and would be central to India’s push for 29 million more skilled workers by 2030.”

“Ensuring ‘recognition’ of Australian degrees or microcredentials is important for Indian students going home, and Australian students working in India.”

“Australian universities look forward to continuing to work with both governments on this important project,” Ms Jackson added.