Student migration not affected due to Haneef episode: Aussi Official

Bangalore, Sep 17 (UNI) The Mohammed Haneef episode that attracted world's attention had not affected the Indian student migration to Australia that had gone up three folds this year, IDP Education Australia Chief Executive Officer Henry Ledlie said today.

Speaking to newspersons here he said the incident of the Indian doctor being detained in the Australia on a teror related incident and later sent back on court's orders did not have any bearing on the student migration from the Karnataka so far.

He said the recruitment of students for higher education in his country he said that Australia was a democratic country and respects every one to live with dignity and that made it an attractive destination for Indian students for taking up higher education.

IDP was a joint initiative of the Australian Universities to help world student community study down under.

''We do not target any one particularly and religion has no consideration when one from the sub-continent want to migrate to Australia'', he said Indians were the third biggest migrating population, next only to UK and New Zealand, coming to Australia, he said adding that large chunk the Indians were from student community.

''The Haneef factor will not affect the Indian students in any way from pursuing their higher studies in Australia'', he said.

In the recruitment programme held today, more than 1200 students were registered prior to the event in comparison to 500 last year.

''We expect the figure to touch 2000 during the day'', he said.

He said that Australia still remained an attractive destination for Indian students because it leads in innovative education system with world class infrastructure facilities.

Mr Ledlie said that IDP had major expansion plan in India with the opening of 21 offices by the end of this year.

UNI