Kolkata, Aug 27 (IANS): The University of Calcutta will ink an agreement with Australia to start student exchange programmes under the union Human Resource Development Ministry's 'Connect To India' initiative, its vice-chancellor said here Wednesday.

As part of the ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC) initiative, the university's vice-chancellor Suranjan Das will visit Mumbai Sep 4 to sign an agreement with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot during his Indian tour.

"We will be signing a deal with the Australian PM in Mumbai Sep 4 as part of the 'Connect To India' programme. We will also initiate the process with the US, the UK. Students from Nepal will also visit as part of this," Das told reporters at an event here.

The venture aims to provide opportunities for undergraduate students from different countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Oman, to visit India and experience and understand the different facets of life here.

It will enable students from other countries to observe the progress made by the country in various fields, especially economic and industrial development, science and technology, communication and information technology, Indian education, art and culture etc.