Australia’s MATES Scheme: Expanding Opportunities for Indian Graduates

MATES is a significant program under the MMPA Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement between the Australia and Indians launched by the Australian Government. This program aims at creating a work experience of 2 years for experienced and fresh graduates of India and enhance Indian relation with Malaysia in education, technology and innovation.

MATES program is specifically designed for graduates from the first two hundred Universities in India as per NIRF 2024 rankings. To be qualified for the scholarship, student must not be older than 30, the application should be submitted within two years after graduation, and the student should have good English language skills. Specialization areas are new generation areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information and Communications Technology (ICT), renewable energy, financial technology (FinTech), mining, agricultural technology (AgriTech) and engineering.

During the first year of the pilot, the scheme provides 3,000 places every year for participants to have a valuable opportunity to enter the Australian professional markets and secure international work experience. Nonetheless, participants in MATES are limited to a single event to guarantee that vacancies are shared among candidates.

This initiative sits well within the framework of the development of the India-Australia bilateral partnership which has expanded in recent years in trade, education and in terms of people to people contact. Thus apart from solving Australia’s issues of scarcity or talent the MATES scheme also benefits the Indian Professional by allowing them career mobility and exposure around the world. This strategic partnership is based on the theme of promoting innovation and building economic cooperation.

Relevance for Exams: Concentration on India-Australia bilateral treaties, human capital mobility schemes, and influence of each on India’s position internationally. These concerns should also be looked into by the aspirants searching for these importance of such programs in enhancing the diplomacy and fulfilling world’s need in new technological fields.