Sibal discusses safety of students in Oz

NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of a series of attacks on Indian students in Australia, human resource development minister Kapil Sibal has mooted the idea of raising the level of the joint working group on education between the two countries to the ministerial level. This working group is likely to give more emphasis on safety and security of students.

During his meeting with the visiting Australian minister for immigration and citizenship Chris Evans, Mr Sibal said the working group may have within its ambit social welfare of students, which involves their security and safety. Mr Evans said the Australian government saw the attacks on Indian students as ���criminal and public policy��� issue.

Emphasising that ���they were our students��� , Mr Sibal said the sub-group on social welfare of students must meet soon and submit a report by December.

The group will deal with issues of mutual recognition of degrees and academic cooperation . The group could be useful when there are doubts regarding quality of degrees being offered by an institute. Mr Sibal suggested that both the countries could have a dedicated nodal officer at both ends to enable free flow of information required related to students��� welfare and related issues . The minister informed the Australian delegates that the ministry was considering a regulatory framework for attracting foreign investments in higher education.