Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met his Australian counterpart, Jason Clare, on Monday for bilateral discussions during the 3rd Australia–India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) Meeting in New Delhi. India is hosting the high-level talks, with Pradhan and Skill Development Minister Jayant Chaudhary representing the Indian side. The meeting signals a renewed effort to boost collaboration in education and skill development between the two nations.

A senior Australian delegation — led by Education Minister Jason Clare, Immigration and Citizenship Minister Andrew Giles, and Assistant Education Minister Julian Hill — is in Delhi for the dialogue, according to the Australian Ministry of Education. The ministers, along with leading university heads and regulatory officials, will engage with their Indian counterparts to enhance cooperation in higher education, skill training and research.

Key topics on the agenda include strengthening higher education ties, especially reviewing the progress of the seven Australian universities that plan to establish campuses in India. Both countries will also assess ongoing efforts to align teacher training standards and early childhood education qualifications.

Innovation in education delivery — an area where India and Australia have steadily expanded joint efforts — will be another major point of discussion. “India is one of Australia’s most significant education partners. AIESC plays a vital role in deepening cooperation and supporting the education, research and skills ecosystem of both countries,” the Australian Education Ministry said in a statement.

The Australian delegation features vice-chancellors from prominent institutions like the University of New South Wales, University of Western Australia, Flinders University, Western Sydney University and James Cook University. Senior officials from regulatory bodies such as TEQSA, Jobs and Skills Australia, ASQA and ACARA are also participating in the talks.