Australia announces ‘New Education Recognising Mechanism’ for India

New Delhi: On a visit to India, Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese has announced that his country and the Indian Government have finalised the ‘Australia-India Education Qualification Recognition Mechanism’.

“This new mechanism means that if you are an Indian student who is studying or have studied in Australia, your hard-earned degree will be recognised when you return home. Or if you are a member of Australia’s very large Indian diaspora — 500,000 and growing — you will feel more confident that your Indian qualification will be recognised in Australia,” he said on March 8.

It is the most comprehensive and ambitious arrangement agreed to by both countries.

“It paved the way for commercial opportunities for Australian education providers to offer innovative and more accessible education to Indian students. And it provides a solid basis for education institutions to consider new ways to partner with each other,” he said.

The visiting Australian PM said this is a significant development in the bilateral education relations.

Earlier, Albanese was greeted with Holi colours and flowers by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and Governor Acharya Devvrat at the Raj Bhavan. The High Commissioner of Australia accompanied him.

“Holi’s message of renewal through the triumph of good over evil is an enduring reminder for all of us. No matter what your faith is or where you have come from, we celebrate and value what unites us,” Albanese said.

The Australian leader’s visit came months after the interim trade pact — Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) — came into force as the two sides drew closer under the strategic Quad initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Antony Albanese are witnessing the first day of the fourth test match of the Border Gavaskar trophy between the two countries at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on March 9.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the stadium in view of the two leaders’ visit.

The 4th test match of the Border Gavaskar trophy between the two countries together has been organised at the world’s largest cricket stadium to mark the 75 years of India-Australia cricket friendship.

PM Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on March 8 night on a two-day visit to Gujarat, while Australian PM Albanese arrived in Ahmedabad on March 8 afternoon.

After arriving in Ahmedabad, the Australian Prime Minister visited Sabarmati Ashram and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.