Australia India Business

Implementing the Education Revolution

The Hon. Julia Gillard MP, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

As Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, I enjoy the great responsibility and the great privilege of implementing one of the Australian Government’s highest priorities: an ‘Education Revolution’ that aims to ensure a world-class education for students at every stage of learning, from early childhood through to postgraduate research.
Australia’s continued development and enhancement of a globally competitive, high-quality international education system is a crucial element of the Government’s agenda.

Our window on the world

Australia is already a recognised leader in the education field. Over a million international alumni have studied in Australia and returned home. International education is now our thirdlargest export industry, making it of great signifi cance to our country, both fi nancially and in terms of employment.
But international education’s significance extends well beyond economics. It opens our window on the world, reaching into every sphere of our lives and reflecting the intrinsic values of education itself – the spread of knowledge, skills, understanding and cross-cultural dialogue.
The Australian Government welcomes the opportunities afforded by international education to broaden and deepen the Australia-India relationship. Our two countries are natural partners in our common quest for a knowledgebased economy and a highly-skilled workforce.

Endeavour awards

One important way we foster links between our countries is through the Endeavour Awards, the Australian Government’s internationally competitive, merit-based scholarship program. Through these awards we invest in our region’s best and brightest students and researchers to ensure we maximise innovation and expertise in responding to the challenges of a rapidly changing and complex world.
The Endeavour Awards offer Indian citizens the opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia to advance their academic and professional careers. All Award recipients enjoy the benefits of Australia’s high-quality education system – one that creates competent, confident graduates with the necessary skills for success in a global marketplace – while experiencing the unique combination of social, cultural and natural attractions that make up the Australian lifestyle.

Global knowledge bank

Australian universities also facilitate partnership between our two countries through bilateral cooperation agreements. Over 400 agreements are creating new means of research collaboration.
A recent and far-reaching collaborative initiative is the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund, established in 2006. Through this fund, Australian and Indian researchers are developing solutions in a range of mutually important fields such as agriculture, climate change and water resources.
Cooperation agreements between our countries and associated activities contribute to a global knowledge bank that supports our common economic prosperity, and a deeper social and cultural understanding between our peoples.
I hope that each and every one of the 52,000 Indian students currently enrolled in Australia’s education institutions finds their time here academically and personally enriching and rewarding. As the years unfold and our bilateral relationship develops, I hope that many more of their countrymen and women follow in their footsteps, contributing to the social and economic advancement of both our great countries in the process.

Website: www.deewr.gov.au

Tags: Deputy Prime Minister and minister for education employment and workplace relations, The Hon. Julian Gillard MP