The inaugural Australia-India Skills Conference: Partners for Prosperity was held on 10 and 11 July 2012 at the Central Institute of Technology in Perth. It attracted around 200 participants including an Indian delegation of 43 members led by Mr Dilip Chenoy, CEO of the Indian National Skill Development Corporation.
The conference supported innovation and collaboration in skills development between Australia and India by bringing together key players in the skills sectors of both countries.
Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research the Hon Chris Evans opened the conference. Minister Evans spoke about the tremendous economic opportunities in both Australia and India and how vocational education and training will be a key area of engagement between Australia and Asia, particularly India.
Conference participants included Dr Renu Batra, Joint Secretary of the University Grants Commission in New Delhi, Professor S S Mantha, Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education, Mr R D Sahay, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Mr Philip Bullock, Chairman of the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency and co-chair of the Australia India Education Council Skills Working Group.
Day one of the conference comprised a formal program of speeches and presentations. On day two delegates participated in over 150 business-to-business meetings followed by site visits to a number of education and industry sites across Perth.
Six Memoranda of Understanding were signed, affirming the strong relationship between the two countries.
AEI would like to acknowledge the Australia India Education Council’s Skills Working Group for its hard work in organising the conference as well as Neil Fernandes, Managing Director of the Central Institute of Technology for his generosity in providing the venue and valuable support from the Central Institute of Techonology.
Minister Evans at the Australia-India Skills Conference