India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Promotes Global Cooperation at Australian Conference

Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, delivered the plenary speech at the Australian International Education Conference in Melbourne today, reinforcing the growing partnership between India and Australia. Shri Pradhan also held a bilateral meeting with Australia’s Education Minister, Mr. Jason Clare MP, alongside university heads and dignitaries from both nations.

In his speech, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan praised the strong historical ties between India and Australia, emphasizing that the partnership would pave the way for a brighter future under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Mr. Anthony Albanese. He highlighted the importance of education in shaping future-ready citizens, particularly in the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution, where education must prepare students to become creators and managers of technology. India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with its focus on digital literacy, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary studies, was presented as a framework to address these evolving needs.

Shri Pradhan reiterated that education cooperation is central to the India-Australia relationship, with India aiming to shift to a competency-based and skills-oriented education system under NEP 2020. He spoke about the transformative impact of NEP 2020, which has made India a powerhouse of educational possibilities. He emphasized that the establishment of Australian university campuses in India is just the beginning of this collaboration, with much more to come. Dharmendra Pradhan stressed that India and Australia can work together to advance knowledge, harness technology, and create new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship for students.

The Minister also expressed India’s commitment to human-centric development, aiming to nurture global citizens who contribute to a brighter future for the next generation.

Australian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Jason Clare echoed the importance of a robust education system, noting that it can change not only lives but nations. He praised India’s education systems and remarked that by 2035, one in four people worldwide earning a university degree will do so in India. Clare lauded the longstanding involvement of Australian universities like Deakin in India and welcomed the recent opening of the University of Wollongong campus. He also highlighted the ongoing exploration by six Australian Innovative Research Universities to establish a consortium campus in India.

In earlier meetings, Shri Pradhan and Mr. Clare discussed shared priorities, including early childhood care, teacher capacity-building, and school-twinning initiatives. They agreed to deepen cooperation in critical and emerging technologies and explored the potential for Australian universities to establish more branch campuses in India.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan also met with the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tim Watts MP, and the Premier of Victoria, Mrs. Jacinta Allan MP, who acknowledged the large Indian diaspora in Victoria. Discussions focused on strengthening institutional ties between Indian and Victorian educational institutions.

During his visit to South Melbourne Primary School, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan engaged with young learners and explored innovative early childhood education methods. He underscored the importance of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as outlined in NEP 2020, reaffirming India’s commitment to making early learning universal, enjoyable, and stress-free by adopting global best practices.

Through these efforts, the India-Australia educational partnership is set to expand, fostering stronger institutional linkages and greater collaboration across various levels of education.