Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to Strengthen Educational Ties with Singapore and Australia

New Delhi: In a significant step towards enhancing bilateral cooperation in the education sector, Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, is set to visit Singapore and Australia from 20th to 26th October 2024. The visit aims to foster collaboration in key areas of mutual interest, with a focus on innovation, research, and skills development.

The minister’s two-day visit to Singapore will kick off on 20th October, where he will address members of the Indian diaspora. On 21st October, Pradhan will meet with Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to discuss potential educational partnerships.

Highlighting the visit’s focus on academic cooperation, Pradhan will tour the National University of Singapore (ranked No.1 in Asia) and a local secondary school. These visits aim to explore how AI can be integrated into educational curricula. He will also engage with leading academicians and prominent alumni of IITs and IIMs to strengthen ties between the education ecosystems of India and Singapore.

From 23rd October, Pradhan will begin his three-day visit to Australia, starting in Melbourne. He is scheduled to meet Australia’s Minister for Education, Hon. Jason Clare MP, and deliver the plenary address at the Australian International Education Conference. The Minister will also visit South Melbourne Primary School, which is recognized for its innovative learning methods.

In line with fostering collaboration between industry and academia, Pradhan will visit the ‘Discovery to Device’ facility at RMIT University. This centre is focused on MedTech prototyping and manufacturing, offering opportunities for joint ventures in medical technology and innovation.

The visit will also include high-level meetings with Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, Premier of Victoria, and other senior officials to discuss broader educational and skills partnerships. Pradhan will visit Monash University to observe their Innovation Lab and Centre for Nano-fabrication, showcasing Australia’s advancements in research and development.

On 24th October, Pradhan will explore partnerships in early childhood education at the Auburn Long Day Child Care Centre in Sydney. His itinerary also includes participation in the 2nd Australia-India Education and Skills Council and meetings with representatives of the Innovative Research Universities (IRU).

As part of his visit, Pradhan will tour Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School and the Macquarie Park Innovation District (MPID) on 25th October. MPID is home to over 180 multinational companies and serves as a hub for applying research in telecommunications, digital industries, and medical technology.

The visit will conclude with interactions with Indian research students at Australia’s top universities and a tour of the UNSW Energy Institute and the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TraCE). These visits will highlight real-world applications of cutting-edge research with a focus on clean energy and sustainability.

In a bid to enhance cooperation in sports education and research, Pradhan will also explore collaboration opportunities at the UTS Moore Park Sports and Exercise Precinct, a world-class facility for sports education and training.