An Australian delegation of higher education leaders is travelling to India and Indonesia in a mission led by the country’s education minister.
It is the second time that Jason Clare is travelling to India this year, as the government seeks to “strengthen” education ties between the countries. The trip comes at the same time as Australian prime minister Antony Albanese travels to China in a bid to “stabilise relations” between the two nations.
Clare will again meet with his Indian counterpart, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and co-chair the annual meeting of the Australia India Education and Skills Council.
Ahead of the trip, Clare reiterated that international education “is not a one-way street” as he prepares to visit the Deakin University and University of Wollongong campuses set to open in Gift City.
He lauded the institutions as the first two international universities to be approved to set up a campus in India.
“It also shows the depth and strength of the relationship between our two countries”
Deakin University will open applications for students next week and both universities are expected to accept students from mid-2024.
“This demonstrates how highly regarded our universities are in India, and the commitment from Australian universities to work with India to implement their National Education Policy,” he said.
“It also shows the depth and strength of the relationship between our two countries.”
International education is “not just about international students coming to Australia, it is increasingly about Australian universities going to the world”, the minister added.
Western Sydney University is expected to announce that it wants to open a campus in Bengaluru in the south of the country during the trip.
In Indonesia, Clare will also “help launch Western Sydney University’s new Surabaya campus” which is due to open next year.
WSU will be joining another Australian university in Indonesia – Monash University has a postgraduate campus in southwest Jakarta.
Deakin University and Central Queensland University are also looking to establish campuses in the Southeast Asian country.
At AIEC in October, Clare said that Australia is supporting the “two economic superpowers in the making” with their education missions.
“They’re asking for our help. They’re asking for us to partner with them, and I’m keen for us to be part of that,” he said. Clare visited the country earlier this year where a qualifications recognition agreement between the two countries was revealed.
Along with Deakin University vice-chancellor Iain Martin and University of Wollongong vice-chancellor and president Patricia M. Davidson, representatives from eight other institutions are joining the delegation.
Additionally, directors from the Australia India Institute, Universities Australia, Group of Eight, International Education Association of Australia and Innovative Research Universities are travelling alongside the minister.
Australian and Indian higher education institutions already share more than 400 partnerships, according to new research by the Australia India Institute.
The Mapping Higher Education Engagement Between Australia and India: A Compendium report serves as a guide for universities and governments of both countries for expanding or diversifying existing relationships with their counterparts, according to researchers.
It emphasised the need for Australian universities to have an on the ground presence to “improve market intelligence and build India literacy” and named Deakin University – with its 57 Indian partnerships and joint PhD program allowing students to study in both Australia and India – as a “major success story” for its Indian footprint.
“Two-way mobility of students between Australia and India is another growth area for universities. The more these institutions do to build those linkages, the better,” said Australia India Institute chief executive Lisa Singh.
According to Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson, the Australia and India relationship is “reaching new heights”.
“Growing joint-degree and student mobility programs and research partnerships continue to benefit students and staff. At the same time, Australian universities are establishing and expanding their footprints in-country to help India deliver its ambition of educating 500 million people by 2035,” she said.
“Growing joint-degree and student mobility programs and research partnerships continue to benefit students and staff”
“Australia and India are united in maximising the opportunities before us to ensure both countries continue benefiting from highly skilled workforces and cutting-edge research and innovation.”
Go8 chief executive Vicki Thomson noted that the group’s membership is proud of the longstanding and growing partnership with the country that is “based on quality and collaboration”.
“The best research is global – and India is a key strategic and economic partner for Australia. Only by collaborating with the best and brightest in likeminded countries can we hope to find solutions to global challenges,” she said.
“Our universities are committed to educating the high-quality skilled graduates India needs and deepening our research partnerships, particularly in areas such as AI and cyber security where India excels.
“India offers a huge demographic dividend, however the Go8 will never trade quality for quantity when it comes to our education and research partnerships. It is this commitment to quality that has seen our eight universities consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 with six in the world’s top 50.”
Thomson also joined the Australia-China High-Level Dialogue in September. She welcomed Albanese’s trip to China, adding that the restabilisation of the partnership between the two countries is “critical”.
