Australian Higher Education Delegation visits Pune to strengthen student mobility and education partnerships with India
Pune, 17th August 2026: A 22-member Australian higher education delegation representing Australian Universities, Higher Education Institutions, and School Boards visited Pune from 16–17 August 2026 as part of Austrade’s Higher Education Week 2026. The delegation visit focused on strengthening student mobility and deepening education engagement between Australia and India.
The Australian Higher Education Delegation visit is led by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government and supported by Invest and Trade Western Australia, Government of Western Australia.
In Pune, the delegation engaged with Indian universities and schools to better understand the evolving aspirations of Indian students, explore opportunities for academic collaboration and pathways, and strengthen connections between Australian and Indian education institutions.
The delegation visit will continue to build a strong education partnership between Australia and India, supported by growing student mobility, institutional engagement and collaboration across higher education, skills, research and innovation.
Speaking about the delegation’s visit, Vik Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), said: “India is an important and valued education partner for Australia. Our engagement in Pune is an opportunity to listen to students and institutions, understand their aspirations and explore how Australian and Indian education institutions can build stronger connections. We want students to see Australia not simply as a study destination, but as a place where they can discover their future self through world-class education, practical experience and global career opportunities.”
The Australian delegation during its engagement promoted Australia’s world-class education offering and the opportunities available to Indian students across disciplines and career pathways and invited the students to Study in Australia.
The Australian delegation also explored opportunities for academic partnerships, student pathways and curriculum engagement with the institutions in Pune.
After Pune, the delegation will visit Mumbai to participate at the 10th Annual IC3 Conference and Expo to be held on 18 and 19 August 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre.
Australia is one of the world’s top study destinations for international students. For many years, Australian universities have ranked among the best in the world for quality education, student satisfaction and overall global reputation. Australia is a global frontrunner in equipping students with the skills needed for the future of work, according to the QS World Future Skills Index 2027. Australian degrees offer applied learning, industry relevance and work-integrated learning, enabling the students to build skills, real-world understanding and professional networks while studying.
