PM Albanese Announces Qualification Recognition Mechanism!

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Australia’s Deakin University to India as the University officially announced its plans to set up an international branch campus at GIFT City in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar during a visit by Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon. Simon Birmingham. This marks a milestone in the ever-strengthening collaboration between India and Australia, as the Deakin University branch campus at GIFT City will provide students with top-notch educational and research opportunities.

On Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the Australian and Indian governments have finalized the Australia-India Education Qualification Recognition Mechanism. Additionally, he noted that Deakin University would be setting up an international branch campus at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This agreement marks an important advancement in the collaboration between India and Australia in the educational sector, allowing for greater recognition and acceptance of student qualifications.

“There is a significant development in our bilateral education relations. I am pleased to tell you that we have finalized Australia-India Education Qualification Recognition Mechanism,” he said.

The new mechanism between India and Australia means that Indian students studying or having studied in Australia will have their degrees recognized when they return home, providing a huge benefit for the 500,000-strong Indian diaspora in Australia. This is the most comprehensive and ambitious agreement India has made with any country, paving the way for commercial opportunities, innovative and more accessible education, and a strong basis for partnership between education institutions. Overall, this is a fantastic piece of work with tangible benefits, as commented by the visiting Australian Prime Minister.

Albanese recently announced the Maitri Scholarships, a new program that provides Indian students with the opportunity to study in Australia for up to four years. The scholarships are part of the wider Maitri program that seeks to strengthen cultural, educational, and community ties between Australia and India. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Acharya Devvrat were also in attendance for the announcement.