India to Strengthen Educational Co-operation With Other Countries

Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh
Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ held bilateral talks with Education Ministers of Norway,
Bangladesh, Mexico, Thailand, UAE and Malaysia in Paris on 13th November, 2019.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of 40th UNESCO General Conference
being held in Paris.
In his bilateral meeting with
Ms.IselinNybø, Norway’s Minister of Research and Higher Education, Shri Ramesh
Pokhriyal exchanged views on future bilateral cooperation between the two
countries in the field of education. Shri Pokhriyal emphasized on collaborative
research opportunities between Indian educational institutions and eminent
educational institutions of Norway. He also explained in detail the initiatives
taken by Ministry of HRD for internationalization of Higher Education such as
Study in India, GIAN and SPARC. Shri Pokhriyal invited the Norwegian Minister
to visit India for a Bilateral meeting in early 2020.
Shri Pokhriyal met Education
Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Dipu Moni at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Shri
Pokhriyal said that friendly relations between India and Bangladesh should be
taken forward. The education sector has the potential to take mutual
cooperation to new heights. Dr Moni
highlighted that in the changing environment, the challenges of India and Bangladesh
are same. She said that Bangladesh wants to pursue collaborative research with
top institutes like IITs, IIMs.
Shri Pokhriyal held extensive
discussions with the Education Minister of Mexico, Shri Esteban Moctezuma
Barragan to increase educational exchange between India and Mexico. He thanked Mexico for inviting India as a
guest country at the International Book Conference in Mexico. On this occasion, Shri Pokhriyal invited
students from Mexico to visit India to study in the fields of Yoga, Ayurveda,
Hindi, Sanskrit and other Indian languages and Indian philosophy. Shri Esteban Moctezuma said that the
educational challenges of India and Mexico are same and both countries should
work to increase long-term cooperation in the field of education.
Shri Pokhriyal also held a
bilateral meeting with Thailand Education Minister Shri NatapholTeepsuwan and
informed him that under Study in India programme, which is a flagship programme
of Government of India, students from Thailand have taken admissions in top
Indian Higher Educational Institutions.
Under Study in India Programme, fee waiver to the extent of 100% and
scholarships are provided to meritorious International students. The Thai side
may take steps to promote this programme for enhanced mobility which will
result in deepening bilateral relations, the Minister added.
Shri Pokhriyal held a meeting
with Education Minister of Malaysia Shri DrMaszlee Malik and urged to
participate in GIAN programme of Ministry of HRD and also to take steps to send
more students under Study in India programme. The Minister said that India has
already shared anMoU on Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications. However,
looking into the intensive potential of collaborative activities between the
countries, we may go for a comprehensive MoU including the issue of Mutual
Recognition of Academic Qualifications.
Shri Pokhriyal also
participated in Ministerial meeting on inclusion in Higher Education. peaking
on the occasion, the Minister said that the framers of our Constitution took
special care that the rich diversity of the country should not only be
protected but also thrives through education. In the new education policy,
coming after 33 years, we have tried to harmonize the individual needs and
abilities of the students by accepting diversity to promote inclusive
education, Shri Pokhriyal explained.
He said that the teacher is the
most important link in the teaching learning process. That is why India has started
the world's largest teacher learning program, Nishtha with a determination to improve
the quality of Indian higher education policy and make it sustainable. Through
‘SwayamPrabha’ and ‘Swayam’ Portal, we are committed to provide higher
education not only to Indian students but also to foreign students.
We are illuminating the world
through the light of knowledge through e-VigyanBharati and ArogyaBharati. We
have agreements with African nations. Recently, we are giving research
scholarships to students of 1000 ASEAN countries in our best technical
institutions.
In order to attract students
from all over the world, Government had started Study in India in 2018, under which
2500 scholarships are being given. The DUO-India program for promoting
educational inclusion at the international level and under this scheme we will
be able to exchange teachers, researchers and students.
The Sampark Scheme is being
successfully run to give a new impetus to academic research and academic
collaboration with the world's top educational institutions. Through the Right
to Education Act 2009 for all, it is committed to provide education to all
classes.
In addition, under the scheme
of 'Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN), faculties from the world's
prestigious higher education institutions visit Indian Higher Educational Institutions
for taking courses in emerging areas. To enhance faculty mobility, it is
necessary to expand academic collaboration with institutions of higher
education. All these programmes are in line with UNESCO's Sustainable
Development Goal 4.5 and 4 (b).
The Minister hoped that this Ministerial meeting will
effectively help in developing strategies to promote balanced international
mobility of students and faculty between higher education institutions in
UNESCO member countries.
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