New Delhi: The Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today marked the first day of her visit to cement ties with India by meeting Mr. Kapil Sibal, Minister for Human Resource Development, in New Delhi.
Kapil Sibal stressed that India greatly values the education relationship with Australia and was looking to work with Australia as India met the challenge of meeting the urgent education needs of the Indian people from elementary school through to university.
In an important step to achieving greater collaboration and a new partnership, the Ministers agreed to an annual ministerial dialogue on education.
Significantly this meeting will also involve education (both university and technical education) and industry representatives from the two countries. Sibal and Gillard looked forward to working together through this new arrangement in the coming year.
The ministers discussed the challenges faced by some Indian students in Australia. The Deputy Prime Minister assured the HRD Minister that the Australian Government was acting firmly to ensure all International students had a safe and enjoyable time in Australia.
She said the Australian Government and the Australian people have zero tolerance for violence and that Australians welcome Indian students.
The ministers discussed the Australian Government's proposed amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act which governs international students, the legislation requiring the re-registration of vocational education and training providers, the upcoming International Student Round Table in Canberra, and the joint working party on student welfare established by the Council of Australian Governments.
Sibal said he was appreciative of the Australian Government's efforts to support Indian students studying in Australia and both ministers agreed to ensure that the number of Indian national students studying in Australia would continue to grow.
Both Minister Sibal and the Deputy Prime Minister noted the efforts of the joint working group between Australia and India on vocational education and training, student welfare and quality assurance and that the report of the joint working group would be concluded by the end of this year.
These joint efforts are a further part of the close collaboration and partnership between the two nations on education.
The Deputy Prime Minister invited Mr. Sibal to visit Australia at a mutually agreeable time. The Ministers also discussed the forthcoming visit by Australia's Prime Minister and a variety of bilateral matters.
0 comments:
Post a Comment