Sydney: India has emerged as the sixth largest source for Australia's $ 4.2 billion education industry, with the country becoming one of the most sought-after destinations for Indian students aspiring to pursue higher studies abroad.

The global quality and cost-competitiveness of Australian education services, tropical climate, safe environs, quality lifestyle and multicultural society is luring the Indian students away from the traditional seats of learning in the United States and the United Kingdom.

In the past year, India has emerged as the sixth largest source market for the AU $ 4.2 billion Australian education export industry. Australia is looking at not just the immediate economic benefit, but also long- term business and political association that will grow once these students return home and join the workforce.

"Australia is now one of the top three destinations for Indian students and there is potential for further significant growth. Education cooperation offers benefits to both sides and ultimately lifts standards of living in both countries," says Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

Aware that many European universities still don't recognise Australian degrees and many Indian universities are at par or even better, it is the quest for international exposure and inability to get admission in the desired field of study back home that is bringing a growing number of Indian students on the shores of Australia.

"This year will see a greater understanding of our programmes in India. University of New South Wales (UNSW) is trying to increase the awareness, particularly at the postgraduate level, by awarding Anthony Mason Fellowships for academic research staff exchanges between UNSW and premier academic institutions in India," says M S Wainwright, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) at the UNSW.

Recently, many Australian universities and colleges have been promoting Australia as the destination for study through seminars and open sessions conducted in major Indian cities.

"The number of Indian students has multiplied 10 times in the past four years since I have been here," says Abhijeet Kumar, vice-president of Indian Students Association in Sydney who attended one such seminar in Hyderabad and is doing his Bachelor degree in Telecommunication Engineering.

The UNSW's has key academic relationship with the Indian Institutes of Technology in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore; The University of Delhi; Jawaharlal Nehru University and The University of Bombay.

There are other significant tie-ups between Ahmedabad centres of NIIT and Swinburne University of Technology; Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi and La Trobe; The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad and Griffith University, Brisbane and there is even an Australian Alumni Association, Chennai Chapter now.

Prof Wainwright adds, "I would like to see us increase the number of Indian students at least three or four fold in the next five years."

PTI