Says Henry A S Ledlie, country manager-India, IDP Education Australia, ``Over the past years, we have seen an increase in interest among Indian students about opportunities in Australia. This expansion is to meet the increasing demand. Students are particularly interested in management programmes. The cost of higher education is also less by about 35-45 per cent in Australia as compared to that in the the US or the UK.''

A measure of the increasing interest in Australia is reflected in the number of students going Down Under for higher studies. In 1997, 5,500 Indian students enrolled in Australian institutes, while in 1998, the figure is expected to bearound 7,500, and by the end of 1999, 10,000.

IDP will also hold education seminars and fairs across the country from November 13 to 23. The one-day fairs will be held in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Chennai. In all, 25-30 universities will be sending down their representatives to inform visitors about the courses available, fees, scholarships, accommodation and any other query that the students might have.

The IDP offices perform a representational and promotional function for Australian education in the Asia-Pacific region and in the emerging markets in South Asia, West Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Students and government agencies use the IDP offices as a source of information and advice about study opportunities in Australia. In turn, the IDP offices assist Australian institutions to promote their courses in different countries. They handle more than 200,000 enquiries each year and enroll more than 30 per cent of international students entering Australia.