PA/33/11 2 August 2011
From the Office of the Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans
Australia and India foster higher education linkages
New exchange programs for academics and college principals were among a range of initiatives designed to foster higher education links between Australia and India announced today in Delhi by Australia’s Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans.
“There are currently more than 300 collaborations between Australian and Indian universities, business and industry which involve the sharing of knowledge and expertise,” Senator Evans said.
“The Gillard Government wants to see these collaborations expand.”
During a visit to the University of Delhi today the Minister announced a host of new measures to foster further higher education linkages. The initiatives include;
- the new Australia India Higher Education Exchange, building on the successful Bureau for Vocational Education and Training Collaboration, set up in 2010. The Exchange will meet regularly to consider collaboration proposals from the higher education sector and provide advice on the best ways to achieve successful partnerships in country;
- the Australia-India University Shadowing Pilot 2012, funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), which will provide full support for up to five Australian and up to five Indian University executives in a particular administrative or academic discipline to undertake a capacity building shadowing exchange in 2012; and
- The Energy and Resources Institute–Deakin University Scholarship Program for Indian students to study at TERI-Deakin in India and Deakin University in Australia.
The Minister highlighted the importance of the recent India Australia Vice Chancellors’ and Senior University Executives’ Workshop held in Delhi on 31 July, hosted by the University Grants Commission.
“I am pleased that Universities Australia has agreed to host a reciprocal workshop in Australia in 2012,” Senator Evans said.
“This will promote greater institutional collaboration, credit transfer, student and staff mobility, and joint research.”
The Minister also announced a new program to showcase Australia’s universities to the heads of Indian university colleges and foster closer cooperation between the nations’ higher education sectors.
The Australia-India College Principals’ Program 2011-12, funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Australia India Council and administered by Asialink, will allow heads of leading colleges to visit Australia and see first hand the state-of-the-art facilities our universities have to offer.
“It will also be a good opportunity for the principals to see the support available to students and gain an understanding of international student life in Australia,” Senator Evans said.
The first group of college principals to travel to Australia in 2012 were announced today at the University of Delhi.
Senator Evans met with the University of Delhi’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Dinesh Singh, and the principals of some of the university’s 79 affiliated colleges. The institution has strong ties to several Australian universities through the international Universitas 21 network of research-intensive universities.
The University of Delhi also has an agreement with the Australia India Institute to support a study tour of 15 undergraduate students to visit Australia for up to three weeks in October this year.
“Australia has a long history of cooperation in education and training with India, and these new programs will help strengthen the bilateral relationship further”, said Senator Evans.
Senator Evans’ Media Contacts: Karen Brown +61 413 080 956; Rhys Davies +61 411 138 572. Australian High Commission: +91 11 41399900