On December 8 in New Delhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Jason Clare during the 3rd Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) meeting. India hosted the high-level dialogue, with Pradhan and Skill Development Minister Jayant Chaudhary leading the Indian delegation.
The visiting Australian team was led by Education Minister Jason Clare and included Immigration and Citizenship Minister Andrew Giles and Assistant Minister for Education Julian Hill. Ministers, university leaders and regulatory officials from both countries met to review and strengthen cooperation across higher education, skills development and research.
Key agenda items focused on expanding higher education links — including the progress of seven Australian universities exploring campuses in India — aligning standards in teacher education and early childhood qualifications, and promoting innovation in education delivery. The meeting also covered collaboration in research and skills training to build shared capacity in both nations.
Representatives from several Australian universities attended, including vice-chancellors from the University of New South Wales, the University of Western Australia, Flinders University, Western Sydney University and James Cook University. Senior officials from regulators and agencies such as TEQSA, Jobs and Skills Australia, ASQA and ACARA were also present.
The Australian Education Ministry described India as one of its most important education partners and said the AIESC is a key forum for strengthening education, research and skills ties between the two countries.
