Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, expressed his anticipation for an increased number of Indian students choosing Australia for their education next year. He denied recent media reports that suggested an increase in visa rejections for Indian students by Australian universities, saying that the statistics haven’t changed much from previous years.
‘they are very similar this year to what they were last year’ and that ‘there hasn’t been a surge in rejection of students.’
‘We make apologies for the fact that we want good students and we want to make sure that they are paired with the right courses. This is utterly wrong to say that there has been a surge in rejections; we look forward to as many or perhaps even more Indian students coming to Australia in the next year,’ he added.
Green emphasized that Australia has not imposed a cap on foreign student numbers and seeks students from reputable institutions for a positive experience in Australia.He acknowledged the strong educational cooperation between India and Australia, highlighting the opening of Australia’s first foreign branch campus in India by Deakin University in GIFT City, Gujarat.
Philip Green stressed the importance of mutual educational opportunities, indicating a desire for Australian education to be more accessible in India. This aligns with India’s 2020 education policy, which encourages foreign educational institutes to establish physical infrastructure in the country.
Noteworthy meetings between Australian and Indian officials, such as Vice Chancellor Iain Martin’s discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on cybersecurity collaboration and Education Minister Jason Clare’s bilateral talks with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, underscore the commitment to enhancing educational partnerships and skills development between the two nations. Both sides aim to strengthen knowledge bridges and foster greater mobility, employability, and prosperity through collaborative efforts in education and skilling.