Back in 2015 then training minister Simon Birmingham suggested India was a big opportunity for Australian VET, what with it needing 70 000 new trainers then, with 20 000 per annum to follow (CMM May 12 2015). But nothing much seems to have happened since. Peter Varghese explained why in his July report on doing business with India (CMM July 13). “The high volume, low cost model needed for India does not stack up economically for most Australian providers, who operate on a low volume, high cost structure.”

Sadly, nobody seems to have told the Germans that India is tough for voced markets. The countries have just agreed to establish training based on the German model with Indian qualifications recognised in Germany.