Education is key to maximising the Australia-India relationship: UA

Education is the key to making the most of the new ‘golden era’ in relations between Australia and India, says Universities Australia.

Catriona Jackson, CEO of Universities Australia

The new Australia-India free-trade agreement will turbocharge the relationship between the two countries, according to Australia’s peak university body.

Speaking from India, Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said the two nation’s relationship was entering a “golden era” and education was key to maximising the ­opportunities.

“Our governments are supporting and promoting the key role universities will play in taking the relationship to the next level,” Ms Jackson said.

“Australia’s universities are here to help India realise its bold, nation-changing ambition – for our mutual benefit.”

Ms Jackson is at the 2023 Universities20 conference in Pune with institutions from all G20 countries represented. In speech to the conference she said that India’s goal to educate 500 million students by 2035 was “an extraordinary undertaking”.

“India’s universities can’t meet this demand alone. As a world-class education provider, Australia can certainly help,” she said.

Innovative Research Universities executive director Paul Harris and policy adviser Peter Bentley are also presenting at Universities20.