India-Australia AIESC Meeting Held in IIT Gandhinagar: Focus on Skill Development

The inaugural meeting of the Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) is taking place today, on November 6, 2023, with IIT Gandhinagar as the host. AIESC, formerly known as the Australia India Education Council (AIEC), is an intergovernmental organization established in 2011 to promote collaboration in education, training, internationalization, bilateral dynamism, and skill ecosystems between both countries.

Key Highlights:

• AIESC's primary focus is to enhance cooperation, partnerships, and connections in critical areas of mutual interest, particularly in education and skill ecosystems.
• The meeting is co-chaired by India's Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, Australia's Minister for Education, Jason Clare, and Australia's Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O'Connor.

A New Beginning: This marks the first time that education and skills are brought under the purview of a formal forum. The journey aims to foster collaboration, partnerships, and connections in areas of utmost importance for the development of education and skills. It includes a visit to the Creative Learning Center and IIT Gandhinagar. The visit will focus on the propagation of ideas concentrating on tools, STEM art, toy-making, science centers, and laboratory experiments, with the aim to enhance scientific temperament and inherent creativity among students and teachers.

NEP 2020 Implementation: This effort is aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) to fulfill and accelerate the development of education in both countries. It sets up an institutional framework to work collectively for making data-driven decisions and actions by major stakeholders in educational and non-educational activities in a coordinated manner.

The Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) is expected to play a significant role in promoting educational and skill development initiatives between the two nations, fostering a robust partnership in these crucial areas.