November 20, 2019
The Group of Eight (Go8) which represents Australia’s leading research-intensive universities with seven of its eight members ranked in the world’s top 100 universities, is in India with Federal Education Minister Hon Dan Tehan. It is a visit to reinforce Go8 commitment to supporting and assisting with India’s ambitious higher education policy priorities which were recently announced.
“India is a regular destination for Go8 universities, and also for our Federal Ministers. We understand that by working cooperatively we can best assist where we can, developing opportunities for quality students, graduates and researchers, and, critically the future academics who will lead the vital train-the-trainer work India requires,” says Vicki Thomson Go8 Chief Executive.
Ms Thomson said the Go8 had been impressed by the ambition and scope of the Indian Government’s recently released National Education Policy (NEP).
Working with the Indian High Commission in Canberra, the Go8 has already begun to look at what opportunities exist for Australia to engage with the NEP.
“There is potential for research intensive universities like the Go8 to partner with Indian institutions and Indian industry on projects with potential to be nation building on both sides. Success in these areas can capture public imagination and support and encourage further investment and commitment from both the Australian and Indian Government’s,” Ms Thomson said.
The Go8 has been working in India for many years with an impressive research portfolio of economic and community impacts beneficial to both nations. Three Go8 universities are already engaged in Indian partnerships at PhD level. Since 2008 the Monash-IITB Research Academy has been providing joint PhD training, the University of Queensland/IIT-Delhi collaboration uses a similar model and more recently the University of Melbourne has entered into a collaboration with three of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology to deliver a joint doctoral degree program.
“Expanding this collaboration is key to our ongoing partnership with India. The Go8 is pleased to see such strong Government commitment to working more closely in excellence in higher education with the Indian Government.”