ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/21/2003 22 October 2003
Australian Minister's visit to strengthen education and science links with India
Education links between Australia and India will be further strengthened with the signing of an Education Exchange Program tomorrow during the visit of the Australian Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP.
Dr Nelson will meet Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resource Development, on Thursday, 23 October, and sign the first Education Exchange Program agreement between the Governments of India and Australia. Australia and India will also renew their Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology.
These agreements will provide a framework for strengthening the bilateral relationships in education, including the reform of technical education, increased institution-to-institution linkages and research partnerships, and open the door for broader collaboration in science and technology.
"The visit and the signing of the agreement will strengthen cooperation in the fields of education and training, and enhance student mobility and research, including those on the cutting edge of scientific technologies, between our two countries," the Australian Deputy High Commissioner to India, Ms Michelle Marginson said.
Dr Nelson leads a delegation of senior Australian educators to India that includes the Secretary of the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training, the President of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, the Chair of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training, and a representative of TAFE Directors Australia, the peak body for government technical education institutions.
"This is the most senior delegation of Australian education officials and representatives to ever visit India, and they will be able to pursue a range of separate collaborative opportunities," added the Deputy High Commissioner.
Dr Nelson will address an audience invited by the University Grants Commission and the Australian High Commission on "Engaging the World through Education".
During his visit to New Delhi, Dr Nelson and his delegation will also meet senior officials of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and will visit Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). While at JNU, he will meet the Vice?Chancellor, senior faculty and students.
For further details, please contact Mr Quentin Stevenson-Perks, Counsellor (Education and Training), Australian High Commission, New Delhi.