NEW DELHI: Jason Clare, the Australian minister of education, arrived in Delhi on Tuesday to begin a four-day official visit to encourage institutional collaborations.

According to a statement from the Union ministry of education, during his visit, Jason will participate with his Indian colleague Dharmendra Pradhan in a student engagement programme and a number of meetings to advance bilateral ties between India and Australia in the field of education. Jason was called by Pradhan while he was in Australia in August of last year.

Jason and Pradhan will sign the mechanism for the mutual recognition of qualifications, which “locks in the rules for mutual recognition to receive education in both our countries,” according to a statement from Jason’s office.
The statement stated, “This will be the broadest and most favourable recognition agreement India has signed with another nation and will enhance student mobility between both countries.

The project between Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and the University of Wollongong in Australia is described as “a excellent example of a partnership which builds skills and capacity to tackle future challenges” in the statement. It’s possible that the university will establish a campus in GIFT city.

The establishment of foreign university campuses in Gandhinagar’s GIFT City, free from domestic regulations, was declared by the government last year in an effort to increase the supply of skilled labour for the financial services industry. Pradhan invited Australian universities and training organisations to investigate the prospect of opening campuses in India and potential areas of collaboration with their Indian counterparts while he was visiting Australia.

“The visit provides an important opportunity for Australian universities to showcase new partnerships and plans which they can deliver in India, including opportunities for joint degrees and campuses,” the statement added