Bengaluru: In a first, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission—the international trade promotion and investment attraction agency of the Australian government—organised a Study Australia Showcase in partnership with Indian universities.
The showcase began with REVA University in Bengaluru on February 17, where officials from the commission highlighted various initiatives introduced by the Australian government to support Indian students aspiring to study in Australia.
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Over 1,000 students from various schools, colleges, and universities in and around Bengaluru attended the roadshow. As many as 13 of Australia’s top universities showcased their offerings at the roadshow. Australia is home to some of the best universities in the world-36 out of its 41 universities are ranked in the top 1000 of the world in the recently published QS World University Rankings, with seven in the top 100.
Australia’s trade and investment commissioner, Bengaluru, Denise Eaton, highlighted the new opportunities available to Indian students with the signing of the economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA) between India and Australia in December last year. Eaton also spoke about India’s University Grants Commission’s (UGC) recent announcement about draft guidelines for foreign universities to set up branch campuses in India, which is another step towards bringing Australian education closer to Indian students.
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“The Study Australia Showcase is another step that shows the strength of the relationship between Australia and India. We work closely with Indian students to ensure they are making the best decisions when it comes to studying in Australia. The Study Australia roadshow provides updated, reliable, and relevant information to students, parents, education counsellors, and heads of institutes,” said Eaton.
The Australian universities that participated in the Bengaluru Showcase were: the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, Monash University, the University of Technology – Sydney, Macquarie University, the University of Tasmania, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Flinders University, James Cook University – Brisbane, Bond University, CQ University, and Melbourne Institute of Technology.
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The recently signed Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AIECTA) supports international students graduating with a diploma or trade qualification to stay and work in Australia for up to 18 months post-study, while bachelor’s and master’s degrees allow students to remain in the country for two and three years, respectively.
A four-year work post-study work right will be accorded to Indian students graduating with doctoral degrees. There is also a special allowance for Indian students who graduate with first-class honours in a bachelor’s degree in STEM or Information and Communications Technology (ICT) fields. Those students will be permitted to stay and work in Australia for up to three years.
A total of 1,000 visas per year will be reserved for Indian students allowing recipients to study or receive training in Australia for up to four months.
From 22 November 2021 (when the Australian Government announced that the border would open to students), more than 70,000 students from India went to Australia in 2022 (back to pre-pandemic numbers).
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Australian education is in the top tier of demand globally, due to its high quality, strict accreditation standards, sophisticated support for international students, relevant curriculum and one of highest graduate employability rates, all delivering a better return on investment for the student. Australia has one of the most supportive international education systems in the world. The Australian strategy for international education 2021-2030 puts the student experience, student protection, and students’ rights at the centre of attention.
