Rebuilding Indian students’ faith post-Oz attacks: Varghese
By IANSWednesday, February 16, 2011
NEW DELHI - The Australian government is trying its best to rebuild the faith of Indian students after the 2009 “racist attacks” on students studying in the country, the Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese said here Wednesday.
“We know the attacks have left a deep scar on the minds of the students, but we are trying our best to rebuild the faith,” Varghese told IANS.
“We have come up with inter-cultural engagements to make all the international students feel better while they study in Australia,” he added.
The spate of “racially-motivated attacks” on Indian students in 2009 drew flak from all across the globe after several students were injured and some even lost their lives.
“We don’t dismiss that the students were not affected by all that had happened, but we are doing every possible thing to assure safety and quality education at the same time,” Varghese said at the ‘Australian Education Excellence Showcase 2011′ here.
“Parents are less apprehensive about sending their children to Australia now,” he added.
Nearly 25 Australian universities participated in the fair that saw interested students from all quarters — business management, technology, engineering, science and hospitality.
“In the recently-conducted International Student Survey in Australia, Indian students turned out to be the most satisfied with our services,” Varghese said.
Over 8,000 students from India enrolled in Australian institutions in 2010.
