India and Australia forge stronger education and skill ties

On November 7, 2023, India and Australia convened their inaugural Education and Skill Meet, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral relations. The meeting, hosted at IIT Gandhinagar, was presided over by Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Education and Skill Development Minister, alongside Jason Clare, Australia’s Minister for Education, and Brendan O’Connor, Australia’s Minister for Skills and Training.

During the event, discussions centered on collaborative efforts in skill development, partnerships between higher education institutions for joint degree programmes, and facilitation of visas for Indian students and research scholars.

Pradhan emphasised the year 2023 as a pivotal period for India and Australia, particularly in the realm of education and skill advancement. He noted that the inaugural meeting of the Australia India Education and Skill Council (AIESC) would serve as a catalyst for devising innovative strategies to strengthen the educational ties between the two nations. This would entail enhancing mutual priorities in education and skill development, bolstering interpersonal connections, and establishing the knowledge sector as a cornerstone of India-Australia relations.

He announced the exchange of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Australian and Indian Higher Education Institutions, aiming to facilitate collaborative research endeavours in critical domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Agriculture, Water Management, Vital Minerals, and Healthcare.