“The Victorian Coalition Government is focused on growing the partnerships between India and Victoria’s higher education sector, for mutual benefit that will strengthen research and development, deliver new global partnerships with industry and generate economic benefit,” Baillieu said yesterday.

Victoria caters to around 46% of the Indian students in Australia – the largest share of any state – and enrolled around 30,000 in September 2011. However, numbers took a dive in 2010-11. Recruitment has begun to bounce back but Ballieu is using the trip to keep business in motion.

“What we have seen is that there has been a recovery in recruitment, particularly from India and south Asia,” he said. “We are going [to India] with a view to enhancing that opportunity and restoring and rebuilding and continuing to grow that relationship.”

Ballieu unveiled a series of measures to enhance this, including a small scale PhD scholarship scheme and expansion of the Victoria-India teacher training programme. He will also launch an awards scheme recognising best practice among Victoria’s international education providers.

Ballieu has pledged to support the sector through initiatives such as a 24-hour student care service

“These awards will recognise international education providers that deliver outstanding educational content and best practice student care,” Baillieu said.

Agreements signed with Indian institutions during the trip included a tie-up between Deakin University and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, La Trobe University and Birla Institute of Technology,  Pilani, and the University of Melbourne and the University of Calcutta. All promote closer academic co-operation and exchange.

“These collaborations show Victoria’s and India’s commitment to working together to nurture these partnerships in the education sector,” Baillieu said.

Australia’s recruitment slump has shaken Victoria, with the state losing AUS$1billion in student revenues last year – around 19% down on previous years. Ballieu has pledged an additional AUS$2 million to support the sector through initiatives such as a 24-hour student care service and and additional overseas marketing.