Universities to play a bigger role in a ‘golden era’ for Australia and India relationship

Australian universities will play a bigger role in the education of 500 million Indian students by 2035, in what Anthony Albanese hails as a new ‘golden era’ for the relationship.

Anthony Albanese celebrates the Hindu festival of Holi in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Picture: Joe Kelly

Anthony Albanese’s push to reinvigorate the bilateral relationship with New Delhi will see Australian universities play a bigger role in the education of 500 million Indian students by 2035, in what is being hailed as a “golden era” for the relationship.

The Prime Minister will also tour the first aircraft carrier to be built in India on Thursday ahead of his annual leaders summit with Narendra Modi in New Delhi where he will raise global security issues, including the stability of the Indo-Pacific and the unfolding situation in Ukraine.

Arriving in the western state of Gujarat overnight during the festival of Holi, Mr Albanese paid a visit on the suggestion of Mr Modi to the Sabarmati Ashram, home to Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1930 and from where he led the salt march in a non-violent protest against British rule.

Mr Albanese also spoke at an event in the city of Ahmedabad to mark deeper co-operation on higher education, declaring that it was a great honour for Australia that Deakin University would become “the first overseas university approved to establish a branch campus in India”.

“The presence of Australian universities in India opens up new ways for Indian students to obtain an Australian education,” Mr Albanese said.

“The campus will be built at the new GIFT district not far from here, and will offer students the opportunity to study cyber security and business analytics.”

The Prime Minister left Perth on Wednesday to visit Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi on a trip aimed at improving economic, trade and security ties.

On Thursday, Mr Albanese will attend the opening day of the fourth cricket test between India and Australia at Narendra Modi stadium – the world’s largest – before travelling on to Mumbai for the Australia-India CEO Forum to discuss new trade opportunities under the Australia-India Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement.

He will later visit the INS Vik­rant – the first aircraft carrier to be built in India – at the nation’s Western Naval Command, which has responsibility for the Arabian Sea and western parts of the Indian Ocean, and speak to Indian navy personnel who have worked on exercises in Australia.

“Australia and India are important partners,” Mr Albanese said. “The truth is that India along with Indonesia will grow to be the third and fourth largest economies in the world in coming years. That is an incredible opportunity for Australia.”

Mr Albanese, who is being accompanied by Trade Minister Don Farrell and Resources Minister Madeleine King, will be joined by about 25 business and university leaders hoping to pursue new growth opportunities.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson noted that about 130,000 Indian students were studying at Australian universities, more than before the pandemic.