Lok Sabha Question No. 4165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: Discussion at AIEC
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4165 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019

## Discussion at AIEC

## 4165. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the discussions that took place at the 4th Australia India Education Council (AIEC) Meeting from 28th June-3rd July, 2018;

(b) the details of the MoUs that were signed between top educational institutions of the two countries;

(c)  whether  Australian  providers  are  well-positioned  to  help  India  meet  its  education priorities,  especially  in  terms  of  increasing  research  capacity  of  Indian  institutions  and research collaboration with industry;

(d)  whether  there  are  any  specialist  collaborative  research  institutes  in  India  around  key challenges facing both the countries and if so, the details thereof;

and

(e)  whether  there  remains  issues  on  mutual  recognition  of  qualifications  in  India  and Australia  and  if  so,  whether  there  has  been  any  discussion  between  the  two  countries  to resolve those and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)  In  the  4 th AIEC  meeting  held  on  29 th June  2018  at  Adelaide,  Australia,  both  the  sides reviewed  the  progress  on  the  four  key  thematic  areas  -(i)  Higher  Education,  Research  and Student  Mobility,  (ii)  Quality  Assurance  and  Qualifications  Recognition,  (iii)  Skills,  and  (iv) Schools. A joint Communique was adopted by both the sides emphasizing the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation in -

- i. Academic research collaboration between institutions on both sides
- ii.  Online education, including by means of sharing of massive open online courses on each other's platforms.
- iii. Skill development and vocational training

iv.  Greater mobility of faculty and students through Government of India schemes like Global Initiative of Academic Network (GIAN).

v. School education, especially in the curriculum revision and development of pedagogies.

(b)  A  total  of  7  agreements/MoUs  were  signed  between  Indian  and  Australian  Institutions. Amongst  them,  three  agreements  were  signed  by  Deakin  University,  Australia  with  Central University  of  Jammu,  All  India  Institute  of  Medical  Sciences,  New  Delhi,  and  Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry. Two agreements were signed  by  Curtin  University,  Australia  with  Indian  Institute  of  Technology,  Guwahati  and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi. One agreement was  signed  between  Western  Sydney  University,  Australia  and  Centurion  University,  Odisha. One  agreement  was  signed  between  University  of  Adelaide,  Australia  and  O.  P.  Jindal University.

(c) There is growing collaboration between Australian and Indian Institutions on joint research projects and PhD programmes in areas of mutual interest. At the 4th Australia-India Education Council Meeting, it was agreed to further strengthen the partnership of Australia and India in the area of research collaboration to allow greater mobility of researchers, academics and scholars to support our mutual interest in high quality research outputs.

(d) Under the newly initiated Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)  programme  of  this  Ministry.  157  Joint  research  proposals  between  reputed  Indian Institutions and Australian Institutions have been received and in the process of approval. Indian Institute  of  Technology,  Kharagpur  is  the  Nodal  Institute  for  helping,  handholding  and coordinating  with  participating  Indian  educational  Institutions  to  forge  alliances  with  the Australian educational Institutions for academic and research collaboration.

(e)  The  issue  regarding  Mutual  Recognition  of  Academic  Qualifications  between  the  two countries is under consideration, through discussions between both the countries.

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