Australia-India Education and Skill Council holds inaugural meeting at IIT Gandhinagar

The inaugural meeting of the Australia-India Education and Skill Council (AIESC) is scheduled to take place on November 6 at the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar. Formerly known as the Australian India Education Council (AIEC), AIESC was established in 2011 as a bilateral entity to facilitate educational, training, and research collaborations between Australia and India.

Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Minister of Education, and Jason Clare, Australia’s Minister for Education, along with Brendan O’Connor, Australia’s Minister for Skills and Training, will co-chair this meeting.

The council’s primary objective has been broadened to align with the national priorities of both countries, with a new emphasis on promoting internationalization, two-way mobility, and collaboration in education and skill development. This gathering marks the first occasion where education and skill development are being addressed within the same institutional framework. The visit is expected to catalyze cooperation, participation, and synergy in vital areas of mutual interest in the fields of education and skill development.

On the second day, the “Research Dialogue: New Horizons in Research Collaboration” will take center stage. This session aims to explore innovative approaches to enhance research collaboration between both nations, encompassing topics such as industry partnerships, research workforce development, and strategies for fostering research networks. The objective is to establish a thriving research ecosystem that benefits both countries.

The meeting will center around three pivotal themes: shaping future workforces, fortifying educational partnerships, and advancing research impact through internationalization. Senior government officials from both India and Australia, along with leaders from Higher Education Institutions and the skill sectors in both nations, will participate in the event.

The AISEC meeting will provide a platform for academic and skill experts to deliberate on a diverse array of mutually agreed priorities, with the overarching goal of shaping the future of education and skill development in both countries. The Ministry of Education emphasized that the discussions will revolve around the three key themes of shaping future workforces, reinforcing institutional collaborations in education, and fostering research impact through internationalization.