australia india education council activity...

A U S T R A L I A I N D I A E D U C AT I O N C O U N C I L

Government of India Ministry of Human

Resource Development

AUGUST 2015ACTIVITY REPORTAUSTRALIA INDIA EDUCATION COUNCIL

II | Australia India Education Council

With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the Department’s logo, any material protected by a

trade mark and where otherwise noted all material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons

Attribution 3.0 Australia (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/) licence.

The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the

links provided) as is the full legal code for the CC BY 3.0 AU licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode).

The document must be attributed as the Australia India Education Council Activity Report August 2015.

Activity Report August 2015 | 1

A U S T R A L I A I N D I A E D U C A T I O N C O U N C I L

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................2

BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................5

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS ..........................................................................................................................6

Skills ...............................................................................................................................................6

Higher Education and Research ....................................................................................................10

Student Mobility and Welfare .......................................................................................................13

Quality Assurance and Qualifications Recognition .......................................................................16

Schools .........................................................................................................................................16

Building a Communications Strategy ............................................................................................17

ANNEXES ..........................................................................................................................................18

2 | Australia India Education Council

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Australia India Education Council (AIEC) is a bi-national leadership body co-chaired by the Education Ministers of both countries to enhance bilateral cooperation in higher education and research, skills, schools, student mobility and welfare, and quality assurance and qualifications recognition. It has a fundamental and overarching role in strengthening the Australia-India bilateral education, training and research relationship both at the policy and programme level.

Since its inception in 2011, the AIEC has facilitated the development of knowledge partnerships and exchange between Australian and Indian governments, institutions and peak industry bodies. It has also strengthened the education policy dialogue between India and Australia.

With a distinctive structure comprising membership from academia, industry and government, the AIEC has provided the strategic direction and impetus to build collaboration on education related issues between both countries. Significant outcomes have been achieved since the second AIEC meeting in July 2013.

In 2014 the Australian and Indian Prime Ministers made reciprocal visits in one year, emphasising the growing Australia-India strategic partnership and recognising a range of priority areas to strengthen collaborative efforts, including education. The visits provided new momentum to the Australia-India education relationship.

SkillsAustralia and India’s skills relationship was further strengthened during Prime Minister Abbott’s visit to India on 4–5 September 2014. Both Prime Ministers Abbott and Modi witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Australia’s Department of Industry and Science and India’s National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to support broader cooperation and mutual assistance in technical vocational education and training in India and Australia.

Forty Indian Community College Leaders received professional development training under the second round of the Vocational Education Leadership Training Programme in June 2014, conducted by TAFE Directors Australia. This programme successfully built the leadership and organisational capacity of India’s Community Colleges under the purview of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Three competency-based training and assessment courses were developed in 2014 to assist with capacity building of vocational trainers and assessors in India, and are being piloted during 2015–2016. These courses deliver skills relevant to India based on Australian standards. The pilot could provide a template for further skills partnerships in a wider range of industry sectors.

Benchmarking was undertaken in occupational standards in the automotive, health, IT and telecommunications sectors. Out of the 24 qualifications compared, 12 were found to have high levels of alignment. This alignment will facilitate the provision of dual-award course provision, support mobility of workers undertaking these qualifications and give business certainty about the skills of their workers.

The 2nd and 3rd Australia India Skills Conferences were held in India in November 2013 and November 2014, respectively. With over 100 Australian delegates at each, these conferences attracted the largest ever skills delegations between the two countries. The conferences highlighted best practice models, included site visits and created numerous opportunities for greater bilateral skills industry collaborations.



Higher Education and ResearchA new Eminent Researcher Lecture Programme pilot was launched in January 2015 to bring some of Australia’s best researchers to India. The researchers were selected in priority engagement sectors identified in relevant Australian and Indian government strategic plans: health, mining, higher education and research and sports. An initial assessment of the visits has shown that the programme has been successful in fostering new partnerships and relationships between Australian and Indian institutions, industry and practitioners.

Collaboration in higher education teaching and learning was initiated in 2014 with India’s National University of Educational Planning and Administration to inform practice for quality improvement of teaching and learning in India. The project also aims to gain from India’s experience in increasing teaching capacity of academics. Work on recommendations to establish long term partnerships including development of joint curriculum for India’s proposed Teaching and Learning Centres is being progressed in 2015. This work will contribute to build India’s capacity for sustainable quality improvement in higher education learning and teaching.

The Australia India Education Leaders Exchange Project was implemented in 2013–2014 for capacity building of senior university executives and to identify and drive sustainable knowledge partnerships. Five Australian higher education leaders travelled to India in November 2013 and five Indian leaders visited Australian universities in May 2014 under the project. The project led to increased discussion and cooperation on joint research projects, faculty and student exchange programmes, joint conferences, summer schools and programmes for overseas study, as well as dual-degree and global leadership programmes.

Student Mobility and WelfareAn online database of existing credit transfer arrangements between Indian and Australian universities was launched in December 2014. The database aims to increase two-way mobility of students by building awareness among students and institutions of credit transfer arrangements and encouraging other institutions to develop their own credit transfer arrangements. The database can be accessed at www.australiaindiacredittransfer.org. As of late July 2015, it had received around 86,100 hits, demonstrating its utility to the sector.

Prime Minister Abbott inaugurated the Australia India Student Mobility Workshop in Mumbai on 4 September 2014. The workshop was attended by representatives from 52 Indian and 24 Australian higher education institutions. The workshop provided participating institutions the opportunity to build student mobility partnerships and a better understanding of preparing students for global engagement. An outcomes document was produced including recommendations on synergiszing India’s student mobility programmes and Australia’s New Colombo Plan.

Four recipients were awarded the Australia Awards Endeavour AIEC Research Fellowships to support the exchange of postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows to undertake short-term research in areas relevant to the AIEC.

In 2014, 24 successful Indian alumni of the prestigious Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships were appointed by the Australian High Commissioner as Endeavour Ambassadors, successfully making presentations at 80 top Indian institutions. In 2015, 23 Ambassadors were appointed to promote even greater reach for the programmes in India and South Asia.


Quality Assurance and Qualifications RecognitionThe AIEC Quality Assurance and Qualifications Recognition Working Group is pursuing recognition (by India) of Australian qualifications obtained through credit transfer mechanisms. Discussions are at an advanced stage and the AIEC has proved to be a helpful forum to discuss this issue and has enabled close follow-up with the Indian authorities.

SchoolsA new working group on schools was agreed by both governments under the AIEC. The composition of the working group and areas of collaboration are currently under consideration.

A highly successful bilateral exchange programme, the Australia-India School Leaders’ Professional Learning Programme (SLPL) is now in its 16th year. Since its inception in 1998, more than 250 Australian and 190 Indian school principals and teachers have taken part in the programme. In 2013 and 2014, 20 Indian and Australian school leaders participated in the programme, and a further 20 (10 Indian and 10 Australian) will participate in 2015–2016. The SLPL Programme is currently being evaluated by the Australian Council for Education Research.

CommunicationsThe Australia India education links website www.australiaindiaeducation.com was redesigned in 2014 and has proven to be a valuable and popular resource for education stakeholders in both countries. New social media platforms including a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/australiaindiaeducation), twitter account (@ausind_edu) and newsletter (http://eepurl.com/bkkPsr) have been developed to increase communication channels and improve information sharing and usability.

In 2013, MyOzNetwork.com, a social networking website funded by the Department of Education and Training for Indian alumni and students of Australian education, merged with Austrade’s new Australia-India Alumni Forum on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=5055692). The LinkedIn forum comprising membership of 3,513 alumni aims to facilitate professional networking among alumni, connecting them with each other and providing a platform for exchange of business ideas.



BACKGROUND

In April 2010, the Education Ministers of Australia and of India signed a Joint Ministerial Statement to reaffirm their commitment to continue to expand collaboration in education, training and research. The statement included the establishment of the Australia India Education Council (AIEC), to guide and build collaboration on education related issues between the two nations.

In 2011, the AIEC was established as a bi-national body, co-chaired by the Australian and Indian Education Ministers, to drive the Australia India education, training and research agenda and priorities.

The AIEC comprises senior officials and representatives from government, academia and industry. A list of current AIEC Members is at Annex A . The composition of the AIEC Working Groups is at Annex B. They provide a forum for members to work with Ministers in prioritising major bilateral education activities for the coming year, under the key theme areas of higher education and research, skills, student mobility and welfare, quality assurance and qualifications recognition and schools.

The AIEC’s work is guided by the following priorities:

� progressing work stemming from national government agreements, such as ministerial statements, joint communiques, and national and international education strategies

� facilitating the development of knowledge partnerships in education, training and research, including between Australian and Indian education institutions, governments and peak industry bodies

� strengthening and broadening the relationship on education and skills policy development between both countries, and

� supporting reciprocal exchanges and professional development for government officials, education and training peak bodies, academics, and industry representatives.

Initiatives under each of the theme areas are directed and implemented by AIEC Working Groups comprising Australian and Indian working group leads and members, from within the AIEC, as well as experts from relevant sectors. The composition of the AIEC Working Groups is at Annex A. A Secretariat in the Australian Department of Education and Training, located at the Australian High Commission, New Delhi, supports the AIEC in achieving agreed outcomes.

The annual AIEC meeting is held in conjunction with the Annual Education Ministers’ Dialogue. This is an opportunity for AIEC working groups to report progress to both Ministers and seek agreement on initiatives to be implemented in the coming year. The third AIEC meeting will be held in New Delhi in August 2015.


KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Significant outcomes have been achieved since the second AIEC meeting in July 2013. The AIEC has enabled development and diversification of knowledge partnerships and exchange between Australian and Indian governments, institutions and peak industry bodies. Progress under each of the thematic areas is outlined below.

SkillsAustralia and India have developed their bilateral skills relationship significantly over the past five to six years. Both the Australian and Indian Governments recognise the important role skills play in improving productivity, fostering economic growth and transforming society. Working together to achieve mutual skills goals and address challenges in this area enhances outcomes for both countries.

The AIEC’s Skills Working Group has had substantial achievements since the last AIEC meeting in July 2013. The working group aims to create opportunities for greater bilateral industry and sectoral collaboration and develop international industry standards to support global mobility of skilled labour. The development of quality frameworks, VET systems and products to contribute to India’s skilling goals is a key focus of the working group.

Formalising Cooperation in Technical Vocational Education and Training

Australia and India’s vocational education and training relationship was reinforced during Prime Minister Abbott’s visit to India on 4–5 September 2014. Prime Minister Abbott and Modi witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Australia’s Department of Industry and Science (then responsible for skills) and India’s National Skill Development Corporation. The MoU encompasses collaboration on occupational standards in priority sectors and supports broader cooperation and mutual assistance in technical vocational education and training in India and Australia. It will strengthen engagement between Australia and India to promote greater skills mobility within the region, and inform the development of skills systems in both countries. This MoU has now transferred to the Department of Education and Training.

L to R: HE Patrick Suckling, Prime Minister Abbott, Prime Minister Modi, Mr Dilip Chenoy at the MoU Signing



Developing Leadership of Community Colleges

The 2014–2015 Vocational Education Leadership Training Programmeme provided professional development training delivered by TAFE Directors Australia to 40 community college leaders under the purview of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The programmeme is aimed at building the leadership and organisational capacity of India’s Community Colleges. The training involved a three day customised and interactive workshop in Delhi in June 2014, on:

� college governance and funding, industry engagement, competency-based standards, qualifications frameworks, quality standards for providers, and delivery and assessment

� teaching, learning and assessment—approaches to competency based training, recognition of prior learning, assessment and skills testing, and formal and informal learning

� regulatory frameworks and quality assurance approaches to quality assurance and meeting regulatory requirements

� leadership—identifying strengths and weaknesses, and strategies for improving leadership abilities, and

� international partnerships and networks.

The Australian system was used as a case study to inform this training.

The workshop was followed by a study tour of TAFE institutes in Australia (for 12 select candidates) in February 2015. The Community College leaders were embedded in TAFEs across Australia to receive training through professional shadowing and mentoring. The participating TAFEs were Canberra Institute of Technology; Central Institute of Technology, Perth; TAFE Illawarra; TAFE Queensland.

The focus of training covered a gamut of TAFE administration and delivery issues including engagement with local industry as a driver of course selection and content and leadership, organisational structure, planning, management systems and approaches.

A mentoring workshop will be held in November 2015 in India for all 40 participants.

Participants of the TDA VELT Workshop with Mr KP Singh,Prof Devraj, HE Patrick Suckling, Mr Ashok Thakur, Dr Manju Singh and Mr Peter Holden (front row)


Building Training and Assessment Capacity

Three competency-based International Training and Assessment Courses (ITAC) have been developed by the Australian Government, in consultation with industry.

1. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Trainer

2. TVET Assessor

3. Advanced TVET Trainer and Assessor

This project evolved from a recognition of the need for upskilling of trainers and assessors in India. In India, the ITAC Pilot will assist with building training capacity to meet the target of skilling 500 million working age people by 2022. It provides a model for the adoption of Australian qualifications to meet India’s needs, and could serve as a model for further courses in a wide range of sectors.

The ITAC fulfil training and assessment needs and have been benchmarked against Indian national occupational standards. The TVET Trainer course and TVET Assessor course provide participants with vocational background skills to train or assess learners in their industry of expertise. The TVET Advanced Trainer and Assessor course provides skills to take a leadership role within an organisation, enterprise or industry.

The pilot project will support delivery of the trainer and assessor qualifications by five Australian providers and Indian partners in 2015 and 2016.

Supporting Policy Frameworks for Quality Standards

The Skills Working Group facilitated the second phase of collaboration between Indian Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and their Australian counterparts in the areas of automotive, health, IT and telecommunications.

In July 2014, the Automotive Skills Development Council, the Healthcare Sector Skill Council and the IT-ITeS Sector Skill Council signed MoUs with their Australian counterparts during the visit of a delegation led by the Indian National Skill Development Corporation to Australia.

The Indian Telecom Sector Skill Council signed a MoU each with two relevant Australian counterparts during Prime Minister Abbott’s visit to India in September 2014.

The work undertaken under these MoUs involved the development and benchmarking of occupational standards, capacity building, mentoring and greater industry engagement. This initiative supports the interoperability of Australian and Indian skills standards and qualifications benchmarking, to assess the comparability of standards.

L to R: John Vines OAM, Prime Minister Abbott, Lt Gen SP Kochhar at the Telecom sector MoU signing

The benchmarking project mapped 24 Indian qualification packs in the automotive, health, information technology and telecommunications sectors to comparable Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications in the Australian system. There was found to be high alignment in twelve occupations. Specifically, the outcomes achieved through these successful collaboration projects form a strong foundation to develop transnational standards and applicable courses for improved skills recognition.



Fostering New Skills Collaborations

The 3rd India Australia Skills Conference-Skills for Better Business was held in Mumbai on 11 November 2014. The conference was facilitated in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, the Australian Government Department of Industry and Science, the Indian National Skill Development Corporation and the Confederation of Indian Industries. The conference brought together over 400 delegates from across Australia and India to foster and strengthen Australia India Skills partnerships with a focus on:

� industry’s role in an industry driven skills training system

� workforce development and the return on investment for industry

� emerging bilateral skills collaboration opportunities for increased global labour mobility

� partnership models in India that meet the price, quality, training levels and volume requirements of the market, and

� feasibility of transnational industry training standards.

The Australian Minister for Industry, the Honourable Ian Macfarlane MP, and Indian Minister for Labour and Employment, the Honourable Bandaru Dattatreya, delivered the keynote and reply addresses. Minister Macfarlane also launched the three ITAC courses currently being piloted in India.

During the conference, three Australian winners of skills excellence awards, Mr Joshua Mason (Cookery Gold medalist of the 2014 World Skills Australia National Competition), Ms Jessica Martin (International Silver medalist in Restaurant Service from World Skills Competition 2013, Leipzig) and Ms Morgan Clementson (2013 Australian Apprentice of the Year—Runner Up, Australian Training Awards) demonstrated their skills.

Business networking was held and seven MoUs between Indian and Australian organisations were signed at the conference. Case studies demonstrating sharing knowledge and expertise in Vocational Education and Training and skill development in India and Australia were also presented.

L to R: Mr Dilip Chenoy, Mr Mark Pierce, Mr Satish Jamdar, Hon Ian Macfarlane, Hon Bandaru Dattatreya, Mr Alok Kumar, Ms Megan Lilly

The 2nd India Australia Skills Conference 2013 Training and Industry – Bridging the Skills Divide was held in New Delhi on 29 November 2013. The conference was hosted by the National Skill Development Corporation, Confederation of Indian Industry, Ministry of Human Resource Development and All India Council for Technical Education.

A delegation of over 100 experts from Australia’s skills sector travelled to India to attend the conference and explore how they can partner to meet the country’s burgeoning demand for skills development. Conference participants had the opportunity to discover quality skills development models already operating in India with Australian partners.

Six new skills partnership agreements were signed between Indian and Australian organisations at the conference.


Supporting Vocational Education in Schools

Australia’s Central Institute of Technology partnered with India’s Central Board of Secondary Education in 2013 to pilot Australian-accredited vocational courses in Indian schools. The project aimed to build capacities of the schools to deliver job-oriented skills. Certificate III level courses were developed in subject areas of music technical production and beauty services.

Higher Education and ResearchThe AIEC’s Higher Education and Research Working Group leads a number of bilateral projects with the objective to align Australia and India’s strengths towards sustainable knowledge partnerships for mutual benefit.

Enhancing Teaching and Learning Practices

Experts from India’s National University of Educational Planning and Administration visited the Australian Government’s Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) in April 2014 to explore collaboration in teaching and learning. The project sought to gain from India and Australia’s experience in increasing the teaching capacity of academics, with flow on effects for student outcomes.

An outcomes report was produced which recommended a number of action points and areas of future collaboration to establish long term teaching and learning partnerships. These include:

� development of joint curriculum materials for India’s proposed Teaching and Learning Centres

� a Centre for Teaching and Research Excellence

� information sharing on a range of learning and teaching initiatives.

A concept paper was developed and workshoped by experts in July 2015 to progress implementation of the recommended initiatives.

Strengthening Research Linkages and Institutional Collaboration

A pilot Eminent Researcher Lecture Programme pilot was launched in 2015 for four eminent Australian researchers to deliver lectures at leading Indian institutions in priority sectors identified in relevant Australian and Indian government strategic plans: health, mining, higher education and research and sports.

A breakout group at the 2nd India Austalia Skills Conference in November 2013

NUEPA respresentatives with staff at OLT and representatives from the Indian High Commission and Department of Education and Training



Side trips were arranged for the academics to develop relationships with key Indian academics, leading to new research partnerships and relationships between eminent Australian and Indian institutions and industry. Interactions were also held with Indian students and media. The long-term goal is to establish an ongoing reciprocal exchange of eminent researchers to continue expansion of the Australia-India research relationship. The programme aligns with the priorities outlined in the Joint Statement on Prime Minister Abbott’s visit to India in September 2014, to expand knowledge partnerships and enlarge the scope for joint research. The following researchers were chosen:

HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Professor James Arvanitakis, Dean of Graduate Studies and Head of The Academy at the University of Western Sydney, visited Delhi in January 2015 to deliver lectures on innovation in higher education teaching and learning, a priority area for both Australia and India to enhance the quality of higher education. Professor Arvanitakis is a winner of the prestigious Prime Minister’s University Teacher of the Year Award (2012), administered by the Australian Office for Learning and Teaching.

He addressed students and academics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Venkateswara College, Amity University and the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). He spoke on the importance of innovative teaching and exemplified some teaching methodologies he practices.

SPORTS

Professor Hans Westerbeek, Dean, College of Sport and Exercise Science at Victoria University visited Delhi and Mumbai in January 2015. He is past President (and founding Board member) of the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand and of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Australia. Professor Westerbeek is an active researcher, corporate facilitator, author and consultant to numerous organisations and governments in a variety of countries.

During his visit to India, he participated in a number of high-level forums on sports administration with Indian government, industry and academic representatives, through the Australia Business Week in India, led by Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Mr Andrew RobbAO MP.

Professor Westerbeek delivered lectures at the International Institute of Sports Management at Jai Hind College and the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai. He spoke to senior academics and students on enhancing capability in sports education, international sport business and sporting success.

Professor Westerbeek is currently leading a project funded by the Australia-India Council to collaborate with the Indian government to develop India’s elite sports system.

MINING

In May 2015, Professor Stephen Fityus, from the University of Newcastle highlighted opportunities for academic and research collaboration in mining to prominent Indian higher education institutions, research centres and industry bodies. Professor Fityus has contributed to a wide range of research areas including minesite geomechanics, geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering, and engineering geology. He is the Principal Researcher in the Priority Research Centre for Geotechnical and Materials Modelling at the University of Newcastle.

Professor Fityus delivered lectures at the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad; the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Kolkata; the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology; the Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologists, Bhubaneshwar; and Coal India Ltd. His visit catalysed a formal partnership between the University of Newcastle and ISM, through a MoU on student and academic exchange, joint research and joint courses signed in July 2015 at the India Australia Joint Working Group on Energy and Minerals in June 2015 in Brisbane.


HEALTH

Dr Warwick Tong, CEO of Australia’s Cancer Therapeutics Cooperative Research Centre, which works at the cutting edge of medical research to develop new cancer drugs, visited India in July 2015. Dr Tong is a physician by training, and has 20 years international experience as an executive manager in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. He has held a range of leadership roles in drug development and business development across a number of therapeutic areas including oncology, metabolic and infectious disease.

Dr Tong addressed leading academic and research institutions in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad on cancer treatment and drug development. These included the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, the Adyar Cancer Centre (Chennai), the Indus Cancer Centre, the Translational Health Sciences and Technology Institute and Apollo hospitals.

He also met with a number of pharmaceutical companies to discuss drug discovery, clinical trials and joint research collaborations.

Professor Arvanitakis delivering a lecture at Venkateshwara College

Professor Fityus with researchers and faculty of ISM Dhanbad

Professor Westerbeek after a lecture with sports administration students in Mumbai

Professor Tong with researchers and academics at AIIMS



An initial assessment of the visits indicates the programme has been successful in fostering new partnerships and relationships between eminent Australian and Indian institutions. It has highlighted the quality of Australian and Indian expertise in chosen fields to key stakeholders, catalysing discussion on new/and further research collaboration and engagement.

A reciprocal programme will be implemented in the second half of 2015 to support India’s eminent researchers to deliver lectures in Australia, in priority sectors of engagement. The pilot will function as a template for extended work in this area.

Investing in Our Leaders

The Australia India Education Leaders Exchange project, implemented in 2013–2014, targeted high calibre education leaders from India and Australia to participate in an exchange visit, and identify and drive sustainable knowledge partnerships. The visits were an opportunity to identify and discuss specific areas for future collaboration, for example in joint research, joint supervision, academic exchange and student mobility.

Indian universities hosted 5 Australian education leaders in November 2013 and Australian universities reciprocated by hosting 5 Indian education leaders in May 2014.

Australian and Indian universities enhanced the profile of their institutions and explored opportunities through high-level dialogue with their counterpart education leaders. Participants built professional connections and a deeper understanding of their partner institution’s structure, governance, strengths and capabilities.

Student Mobility and WelfareThe AIEC Student Mobility and Welfare Working Group aims to identify opportunities and develop initiatives to foster the bilateral flow of students between India and Australia. The working group has implemented substantial initiatives since the last AIEC meeting.

Increasing Awareness of Credit Transfer Arrangements

An online database was launched in December 2014 to help Indian and Australian students and providers find higher education courses which are recognised for credit in both countries. The database is a resource for Indian students seeking to complete part of their degree in Australia, and for Australian students wishing to study in India. It can be searched by location, institution or course, which will help students find the information they need. The database was implemented by Jamia Millia Islamia University and can be accessed at www.australiaindiacredittransfer.org. As of late July 2015 it has received approximately 86,100 hits, demonstrating its utility to the sector.

Professor Talat Ahmad, VC, Jamia Millia Islamia and Mr Bernard Phillip, A/g Australian High Commissioner to India at the launch of the database



Exploring Opportunities for Mobility Programmes

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, inaugurated the Australia India Student Mobility Workshop in Mumbai on 4 September 2014. The workshop was attended by representatives from 52 Indian and 24 Australian higher education institutions. It provided a forum for Australian and Indian higher education institutions, student services providers, NGOs and industry to identify best practice for student mobility Programmes in India, including student support, internships, and practicums. The workshop also provided participating institutions the opportunity to build student mobility partnerships and a better understanding of preparing students for global engagement.

An outcomes document was produced including recommendations on connecting Indian study abroad programmes with Australia’s New Colombo Plan.

PM Abbott launching the New Colombo Plan in India and inaugurating the Australia India Student Mobility Workshop

A breakout session at the Australia India Student Mobility Workshop

Endeavour Ambassadors

In 2015, 23 successful Indian alumni of the prestigious Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships were appointed by the Australian High Commissioner as Endeavour Ambassadors to promote the programmes in India and South Asia.

The Endeavour and Australia Awards Ambassadors visited leading research and higher education institutions to discuss their experiences with top Indian students, faculty and administrators.

The 2014 Programme supported 24 successful Indian alumni of the prestigious Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships to promote even greater reach for the awards in India.

2015 Endeavour Ambassadors at the formal launch of the initiative

Fifteen of the alumni were appointed as Australia Awards Ambassadors to raise the visibility of the scholarships through presentations at top research and higher education institutions across India. A further nine alumni were appointed as Australia Awards Mentors, to support the recipients through advice on studying and living in Australia. The Ambassadors successfully made presentations at over 80 top institutions. The presentations were very successful, receiving significant interest from students, staff and institutional leaders.

Following positive outcomes in 2014, the initiative expanded to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan. In 2015, 15 Ambassadors from India and 2 each from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan were appointed.



Supporting Exchange of Researchers

Four Endeavour AIEC Research Fellowships were granted since the launch of the awards in October 2012 by former Prime Minister of Australia, Ms Julia Gillard. The awards support the exchange of researchers and foster links that will underpin the bilateral relationship into the future and progress work and/or support activities of an AIEC working group in an AIEC thematic area.

The 2013–2014 awardees were:

Dr Sara Parwin Banu Kamaludeen, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Dr Sara has been working for the past 15 years on bioremediation of metal contaminated soils. Through this fellowship she had the opportunity to gain experience in the area of organic contaminants (pharmaceuticals and antimicrobials) at CSIRO Land and Water and the University of Adelaide. She initiated collaborative research projects with scientists working in areas which will expand her own research base in India. Her desire is to pass on the advanced skills acquired during this project to farmers and postgraduate students, thus extending the capacity and expertise to explore additional research avenues worldwide.

Dr Christopher Vas, Academic Director of the Executive Education Centre, Murdoch University explored how the ‘Internationalisation of Clusters’ between Australia and India can assist in achieving policy objectives of skills development, business-research collaboration, better access to markets and job creation. The initiative was pursued in India in partnership with the Indian School of Business (ISB) between March and August 2014. Dr Vas will be able to further contribute to policy deliberations on the important issues of industry competitiveness, skills and knowledge diffusion, innovation and long-term growth.

The 2014–2015 awardees were:

Dr Santoshi Halder, Assistant Professor in Education, University of Calcutta will be undertaking her research at LaTrobe University in the area of disability studies. Dr Halder has a multidisciplinary educational background and research experience of working with various categories of disabilities in India and other countries in a multicultural context. The fellowship will provide cross cultural research experience with future prospects for collaborative research on developing a culture sensitive global model of intervention for individuals with autism.

Mr Nicholas De Boer is undertaking his doctorate from Deakin University and is currently pursuing his Endeavour Australia India Education Council Research Fellowship from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in the field of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology. The Fellowship will allow Mr Boer to gain further research experience and an international perspective in the Assistive Robotics field and provide an encouraging environment for the publication of worthy articles and papers, which will benefit both groups.


Quality Assurance and Qualifications Recognition

Enhancing Mutual Understanding of Quality Assurance Frameworks and Supporting Qualifications Recognition

The AIEC’s Quality Assurance and Qualifications (QAQR) Working Group aims to enhance mutual understanding of quality assurance mechanisms and address qualifications recognition matters.

Addressing qualifications recognition is important for Australia and India to improve the interoperability of education systems. This will enable improved education, skills development and employment participation and facilitate the internationalisation of education, research and labour through increased professional, student and researcher mobility between our countries.

In 2013 the working group developed a report, Aligning qualification recognition between India and Australia that included recommendations for improved qualifications recognition between India and Australia.

This formed the basis of the forward work Programmeme under this thematic area. The working group has focused on resolving recognition of Australian qualifications gained through credit transfer mechanisms, noting the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) does not currently recognise these qualifications.

Discussions have progressed to identify and meet requirements by the AIU. The AIEC has proved to be a helpful forum to discuss this issue and has enabled close follow-up on the matter.

The working group is also discussing mechanisms for recognition of some Australian professional qualifications including architecture degrees.

SchoolsIn 2015 the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development agreed to expand cooperation in education through the inclusion of a Schools Working Group under the AIEC. The composition of the working group is under consideration by both governments.

Fostering Professional and Personal Relationships through Leadership Exchange

A long standing bilateral exchange programme, the Australia-India School Leaders’ Professional Learning Programme (SLPL) is now in its 16th year. Since its inception in 1998, more than 250 Australian and 190 Indian school principals and teachers have taken part in the programme.

The programme aims to provide leading teachers and school leaders from Australian and Indian schools the opportunity to:

� build knowledge and understanding amongst Australian and Indian education leaders about contemporary Australian and Indian society, culture, values, tradition and education systems

� establish links between school leaders in both countries that facilitate collaboration

� build the foundations for partnerships between Australian and Indian schools, and

� develop the Australian participant’s capacity to lead the implementation of Asia-related curriculum and intercultural understanding in their school.



Mr Bernard Philip presents Mrs Seema Srivastava with a certificate of participation in the 2014 SLPL

In April 2014, ten Australian school leaders participated in a two-week India study programme, visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

During the programme’s first three days participants attended educational briefings and cultural tours in Delhi. They then undertook a four-day homestay and school visit programme, hosted by the principals of their Indian partner schools. The programme aims to increase awareness of school educators in both countries

In June 2014, ten Indian school leaders undertook an exchange programme to Australia including five days of professional learning and cultural activities in Melbourne and Sydney. Participants reconnected with their Australian school partners

and undertook a four night homestay and school visit programme in locations across Australia with Australian school leader hosts. The programme concluded with participants attending the AEF 2014 National Conference in Sydney.

A similar exchange of ten school leaders each from both countries was conducted in 2013.

Building a Communications StrategyThe Australia India education links website www.australiaindiaeducation.com was redesigned in 2014 and has proven to be a valuable and popular resource for education stakeholders in both countries. In December 2014 alone it received 30,415 hits.

An important feature of the website is a collaborations database which features over 400 active higher education collaborations between Australia and India. This database is the only central source of information on partnerships between Australian and Indian universities, and is used regularly by government, media and institutions. The Department of Education and Training, New Delhi post maintains the database on an annual basis.

The website also hosts an online database, an initiative of the AIEC Student Mobility and Welfare Working Group, to help Indian and Australian students and providers find higher education courses which are recognised for credit in both countries (www.australiaindiacredittransfer.org/). The credit transfer database received more than 10,000 hits in April 2015 alone. It is a valuable mechanism to promote course offerings.

New social media platforms including a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/australiaindiaeducation), twitter account (@ausind_edu) and newsletter (http://eepurl.com/bkkPsr) on developments in Indian education policy, government programme and collaboration with Australia have been developed to increase communication channels and improve information sharing and usability.

In 2013, MyOzNetwork.com, a social networking website funded by the Department of Education and Training for Indian alumni and students of Australian education, merged with Austrade’s new Australia-India Alumni Forum on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=5055692). The LinkedIn forum comprising membership of 3513 alumni aims to facilitate professional networking among alumni, connecting them with each other and providing a platform for exchange of business ideas.


ANNEXES

ANNEX A

Australia India Education CouncilAustralian AIEC members

Name Position Organisation

The Hon Christopher Pyne MP (Co-Chair)

Minister for Education and Training

Australian Government

Ms Jessie Borthwick Acting Deputy Secretary Department of Education and Training

Mr John AngleyGeneral Manager, International Education

Austrade

Ms Anne BalyGroup Manager, International Group

Department of Education and Training

Mr Neil Fernandes Managing DirectorCentral Institute of Technology (representing TAFE Directors Australia)

Professor Jane den Hollander Vice-ChancellorDeakin University (representing Universities Australia)

Ms Megan Lilly Head of Workforce Development Australian Industry Group

Dr Gavin Lind Director, Education and Training Minerals Council Australia

Professor Amitabh Mattoo

Honorary Director and CEO

Professor of International Relations, University of Melbourne, Professor of International Relations, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Australia India Institute@Delhi


Indian AIEC members

Name Position Organisation

Hon Smt Smriti Zubin Irani (Co-Chair)

Minister of Human Resource Development

Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India

Shri Vinay Sheel OberoiSecretary, Higher Education

Ministry of Human Resource Development

Professor Ved Prakash Chairman University Grants Commission

Professor Anil D Sahasrabudhe Chairman All India Council for Technical Education

Professor Furqan Qamar Secretary General Association of Indian Universities

Professor Ratnam V Raja Kumar DirectorIndian Institute of Technology – Bhubaneshwar

Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarty

Director Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur

Professor Sudhir Kumar Sopory Vice-Chancellor Jawaharlal Nehru University

Professor ADN Bajpai Vice-Chancellor Himachal Pradesh University

Professor Talat Ahmad Vice-Chancellor Jamia Millia Islamia

Dr M N Patel Vice-Chancellor Gujarat University

Prof A P Dash Vice-Chancellor (Acting) Central University of Tamil Nadu

Professor R D Sharma Vice-Chancellor Jammu University

Professor Dhanush Dhari Misra Chairman Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad

Professor C B Sharma Chairman National Institute of Open Schooling


Mr Rana KapoorPresident (or representative)

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India

Mr Sumit MazumderPresident (or representative)

Confederation of Indian Industry

Dr Jyotsna SuriPresident (or representative)

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Dr Satbir Bedi Chairperson Central Board of Secondary Education

Dr Arabindra MitraJoint Secretary/Advisor (In charge-international cooperation)

Department of Science and Technology

Mr Sudhanshu PandeyJoint Secretary (Services)

Ministry of Commerce

Mr Dilip ChenoyManaging Director and CEO

National Skill Development Corporation

Mr Rakesh RanjanJoint Secretary, International Cooperation Cell

Ministry of Human Resource Development


ANNEX B

EC Working Group members

Working Group Members

Higher Education and Research

Australia

Professor Amitabh Mattoo, Honorary Director of the Australia India Institute (New Delhi), Honorary Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne and Professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (Australian lead)

Professor Sue Elliott, Deputy Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor International, University of Melbourne (Australian lead)

Dr Gavin Lind, Director, Education and Training, Minerals Council Australia

Mr Kris Browne, Manager, International Science Collaboration, Department of Industry

Mr Justin Withers, Director, Policy and Integrity, Australian Research Council

Ms Ainslie Moore, Policy Director – International, Universities Australia

Dr James Arvanitakis, Dean, Graduate Research School, University of Western Sydney

Dr Amanda Day, Counsellor (Education and Research), Department of Education and Training

Department of Education and Training Representative

India

Professor Dinesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi (Indian lead)

Professor Anand Prakash, Dean, International Relations (Social Sciences and Humanities), University of Delhi

Professor Furqan Qamar, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities


Quality assurance and qualifications recognition

Australia

Professor Jane den Hollander, Vice Chancellor, Deakin University (representing Universities Australia) (Australian lead)

Ms Liz Campbell-Dorning, Director, Qualifications Recognition Policy Section, Department of Education and Training

Dr Amanda Day, Counsellor (Education and Research), Department of Education and Training, Australian High Commission, New Delhi


India

Professor Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Director, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) (Indian lead)

Professor Furqan Qamar, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities (AIU)

Professor HA Ranganath, Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and former Director, NAAC

Mr Sambhav Srivastava, Section Officer, International Cooperation, AIU

Skills Australia

Ms Megan Lilly, Director, Education and Training, Australia Industry Group (A/g Australian lead)

Mr Randeep Agarwal, Queensland President, Australia India Business Council

Jeanette Allen, or Mark Callaghan, CEO Worldskills Australia (Global Skills Representative)

Mr Rod Camm, CEO, Australian Council for Private Education and Training

TAFE Directors Australia Representative

Mr John Angley, General Manager, International Education, Austrade

Ms Joanna Wood, Director, International Skills Cooperation: South Asia, Department of Education and Training



Skills India

Mr Dilip Chenoy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), (Indian Lead)

Mr Rajiv Mathur, Head – Standards and Quality Assurance, NSDC

Mr Sougata Roy Choudhury, Director – Skills, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

Ms Neeta PradhanDas, Deputy Director – Skills, CII

Student Mobility and Welfare

Australia

Professor Alec Cameron, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), The University of Western Australia (Australian lead)

Keith Johnstone, Director, Diplomatic & Network Relations, University of New South Wales

Ian Woolford, Lecturer in Hindi Language and Literature, La Trobe University



India

Professor Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia (Indian lead)

Dr S K Naqvi, Additional Director, FTK Centre for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia

A U S T R A L I A I N D I A E D U C AT I O N C O U N C I L

australia india education council activity...

Documents