Education ministers of India and Australia have commended Universities Australia for hosting the 2nd Australia India Vice Chancellors' Workshop here on July 11, in collaboration with the University Grants Commission of India, to expand and strengthen engagement between Australian and Indian universities.
A joint communique issued by the two countries after a bilateral education dialogue held here, said engagement has grown to over 390 active collaborations between 29 Australian and 250 Indian universities.
Ministers Kim Carr and M.M. Pallam Raju acknowledged the depth and breadth of
university engagement in areas such as joint teaching and research and student and staff exchange, and committed to continue to encourage initiatives that support strong and sustainable partnerships and mobility between the two countries.
They also acknowledged the significant contribution made by the Australia India Strategic Research Fund since 2006 in building partnerships between our higher education and research institutes.
The AISRF has supported over 100 joint projects and workshops, Grand Challenge projects in food security, health and energy, and over 80 fellowships for Australian and Indian researchers.
They agreed that both Australia and India are enriched through high quality, innovative and sustainable education, skills and research partnerships. These partnerships support mutual efforts towards greater economic and social progress, modern cultural understanding and people-to-people connections.
Both ministers said they looked forward to meeting again in India in 2014 for the next Australia India Ministerial Dialogue on Education Cooperation and Australia India Education Council meeting.
