National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), held a bilateral meeting with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) on March 18, 2026, in New Delhi to explore avenues for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the vocational education, training, and Skilling (VETS) sector.

The meeting was chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Gaba, Executive Member, NCVET, and commenced with his opening remarks, followed by detailed presentations from both sides outlining their respective regulatory frameworks, operational landscapes, and key challenges within the VETS ecosystem. The ASQA delegation was led by Ms. Saxon Rice, Chief Executive Officer, ASQA, and included Mr. George Thiveos, Minister-Counsellor (Education and Research); Ms. Priya Raja, Senior Policy Officer; and Ms. Sonali Singh, Policy and Administration Officer from the Australian Government Department of Education, Australian High Commission, New Delhi.

During the discussions, both sides deliberated on regulatory systems and quality assurance mechanisms. Key areas of discussion included risk-based monitoring, compliance and audit practices, strengthening assessment integrity, qualification approval processes, and the use of technology and data systems for effective monitoring and regulatory oversight. The meeting also covered benchmarking of qualifications, best practices in quality assurance of training and assessment.

Both NCVET and ASQA acknowledged the importance of robust regulatory frameworks and credible quality assurance systems in enhancing the global recognition of vocational qualifications. The meeting concluded with remarks emphasizing the initiation of mutual qualification mapping on a pilot basis in selected sectors, including healthcare (caregiver) and agriculture.