New Delhi, Oct 23: Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, delivered the plenary speech at the Australian International Education Conference in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday.
Pradhan also held a Bilateral Meeting with his counterpart Minister for Education, Government of Australia, Jason Clare MP. Members of the Indian delegation, heads of the universities of both countries, and other dignitaries were also present at the event.
Pradhan in his speech commended the strong and evolving partnership between India and Australia that ties the history of the two countries and will also pave the way for a brighter future together. He also reaffirmed the further strengthening of these ties under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese.
Pradhan also highlighted that in the 4th Industrial Revolution, education must prepare students to be creators and managers of technology. India’s National Education Policy provides a framework emphasising digital literacy, soft skills, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary studies to adapt to evolving job markets, he added.
The Union Education Minister emphasized that cooperation in education is the fulcrum of the India-Australia relationship. He stated that the main objective is to enhance India's education system into a competency-based framework, focusing on skills-based education as outlined in India’s National Education Policy (NEP).
He spoke about how NEP 2020 has transformed India’s learning landscape into a powerhouse of possibilities, the enduring India-Australia ties and the remarkable strides made in education cooperation powered by NEP 2020. The establishment of Australian university campuses in India is just the beginning, with much more potential to be realized, he added.
He also added that together, the countries can advance knowledge, leverage technology for global challenges, and create endless opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship for the students.
The Minister also expressed that as a ‘Vishwa-Bandhu’, India is committed to being a trusted partner in human-centric development. The idea is to build and nurture global citizens, contributing to a brighter future for the next generation, he said.
