The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Mr Kapil Sibal met the the Australian minister for foreign affairs, Mr Stephen Smith in the Capital recently. Mr Sibal expressed his appreciation for the recent statement of Mr Smith on the Australia-India relationship in the Australian Parliament. The measures announced by the Australian federal and state governments to resolve the problems faced by Indian students in Australia, particularly, the safety and security issues, were discussed.

With regard to the desire expressed by the Australian side to develop a set of principles for the regulation of education agents recruiting Indian students to study abroad, Mr Sibal requested the Australian side to provide to the Indian side, a list of education agents signed up by Australian institutions. He also emphasised the need for institution to institution linkages. Mr Sibal emphasised the need for making suitable arrangements for Indian students, who have been affected by the closure of dubious institutes of vocational education recently.

Mr Sibal pointed out that the two countries should also look towards cooperation in the higher education and vocational education sector. Mr Sibal said that India was in the process of introducing suitable legislative framework with regard to foreign education providers, which would regulate the entry of foreign education providers as per the country’s national priorities. Although 100 per cent FDI is allowed in education sector, the present legal structure in our country does not allow granting of degrees by foreign educational institutions on Indian soil.