During a significant visit to Australia, Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Nara Lokesh engaged with Professor Emma Johnston, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne. He emphasized the immense potential for collaborative ventures between Andhra Pradesh and the university, particularly in cutting-edge research areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), and Quantum Technology. The Minister also put forward proposals for establishing joint centers dedicated to advancements in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and healthcare innovation.
Further extending the invitation, Mr. Lokesh specifically sought partnership opportunities with Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University. This collaboration aims to bolster research efforts in sustainable farming practices and explore new frontiers in digital health solutions.
On the fifth day of his impactful tour across Australia, Minister Lokesh conducted several high-level meetings with leading universities and government officials. His overarching goal was to secure strategic alliances in critical sectors such as technology, education, tourism, and healthcare, all vital for Andhra Pradesh’s long-term sustainable growth.
Among these engagements, Minister Lokesh held discussions with Steve Dimopoulos, Victoria’s Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Environment. He outlined proposals for collaboration in diverse areas, including heritage tourism, developing climate-resilient coastal regions, effective waste management strategies, and achieving eco-certification. Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s natural beauty, he encouraged Victoria to share its expertise in promoting stunning heritage sites like Papikondalu and the picturesque Visakhapatnam beaches. Additionally, the Minister suggested joint training camps for cricket and hockey, reciprocal exchanges in sports science, and developing adventure tourism ventures in locations like Araku and Pulicat, drawing inspiration from Victoria’s successful Alpine National Park model.
His tour also included a visit to the University of Tasmania (UTAS), where he met with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Natalie Brown. During this meeting, Mr. Lokesh requested UTAS’s assistance in several key areas: designing comprehensive curricula for pharmacy and paramedical programs, advancing digital health tools and telemedicine services, fostering student and faculty exchange programs, and undertaking collaborative research on vital issues such as rural healthcare access and water supply management.