The Australia India Education Council’s (AIEC) Higher Education and Research Working Group is leading a number of bilateral projects with an objective to align Australia and India’s strengths towards sustainable knowledge partnerships for mutual benefit.
The working group leads are:
- Mr R. Subrahmanyam, Additional Secretary (Technical Education), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development
- Prof Jane Den Hollander, Vice Chancellor, Deakin University
Higher education teaching and learning project
The Australia-India Education Council’s (AIEC) Higher Education Working Group is implementing a project on higher education teaching and learning. Under the project, Australian teaching and learning experts from a number of institutions, led by Professor James Arvanitakis (Western Sydney University) will co-write a book with Indian counterparts on best practices and reflections. The book is due to be completed and published in early 2017, for use in teaching and learning centres across India and potentially Australia.
Between 18-19 July 2016, the initial drafting workshop for the joint book was held at the National University for Education Planning and Administration (NUEPA) in Delhi. The workshop was attended by pedagogy experts from Australia and India, who will co-write chapters. The workshop was very successful and resulted in the drafting of concept notes for each chapter of the book.
On 20 July 2016, the Australian High Commission in Delhi organised a forum with a larger group of Indian policy stakeholders, to broaden the input to the drafters.
Mr Subrahmanyam, Additional Secretary (Technical Education), Department of Higher Education, MHRD and Indian lead of the AIEC Higher Education and Research Working Group attended the forum.
The forum was also attended by Dr Shakila Shamsu, Officer on Special Duty for the National Education Policy, Ministry of Human Resources Development.
The second workshop is now scheduled to take place in Australia from 14-15 February 2017.
Eminent researcher lecture program
The project aims to establish an ongoing reciprocal exchange of eminent researchers to continue expansion of the Australia-India research relationship.
A pilot programme was launched in 2015 for four eminent Australian researchers to deliver lectures at leading Indian institutions in priority sectors identified in relevant Australian and Indian government strategic plans: health, mining, higher education and research and sports.
The programme aligns with the priorities outlined in bilateral agreements to expand knowledge partnerships and enlarge the scope for joint research.
An expanded version of the programme will be delivered in 2016 with Australian researchers visiting India and Indian researchers visiting Australia. The eminent researchers will deliver presentations at leading institutions in their field. Side trips will also be arranged to develop relationships with key academics, leading to new partnerships and relationships between Australian and Indian institutions and industry. Interactions will also be held with industry, students and media. The lecturers will be selected in sectors that are closely aligned to the priority areas for engagement between Australia and India.
