Aussie institutions ink two pacts

Premier of Queensland and minister of trade, government of Australia, Peter Beattie, signed separate education agreements with the Indian Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) and the government of India-sponsored Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore (IHMB), here on Tuesday.

IIITB signed an MoU with Queensland University of Technology (QUT), while IHMB inked a pact with the Southbank Institute of TAFE. Both these Queensland higher education centres have now signed three agreements with Karnataka after Beattie's February 2003 agreement for higher education co-operation with the Karnataka government.

The earlier agreement was signed between University of Queensland and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

"The agreements are high accolades for Queensland education, training and research institutions, from an Indian state which is renowned for education, research and new industries," Beattie said.

The agreement between Southbank TAFE and IHM links the biggest and best provider of tourism and hospitality training in Australia with the winner of the National Tourism Award for Best Educational Institute in India in 2003.

The agreement between QUT and IIITB will focus on research collaboration in IT security and exchange of researchers.