India seeks list of authorized education agents from Australia

NEW DELHI - India Wednesday urged Australia to provide a list of authorized education agents recognised by Australian institutions so that students are not cheated by touts or misled by dubious institutes.

The demand was made during Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal’s interaction with visiting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith here.

With regard to the desire expressed by the Australian side to develop a set of principles for the regulation of education agents recruiting Indian students to study abroad, Sibal requested the Australian side to provide to the Indian side, a list of education agents signed up by Australian institutions, the HRD ministry said in statement.

A signed list of educational agents will help Indian students not to fall prey to the touts who promise Indian students all kind of things before sending them to low standard educational institutes.

Sibal emphasised the need of making suitable arrangements for Indian students who have been affected by closure of dubious institutes of vocational education recently.

Sibal and Smith also discussed other issues related to education cooperation and India’s plan to allow foreign educational institutions to open campus in India.

We should also look towards cooperation in the higher education and vocational education sector, Sibal said.

The two governments are working closely to prevent attacks in Australia of Indian students who fall victim to unscrupulous people.