The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a state visit to USA has presented 5-point proposals for furthering India-USA academic and research collaboration. Speaking at ‘India-USA: Skilling for the Future’ in Washington DC in presence of First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, on June 22, PM Modi gave the following proposals:
- Integrated approach bringing together government, industry and academia
- Encouraging exchange of Teachers & Students
- Organising Hackathons on various subjects between the two countries
- Mutual recognition of vocational skills qualifications
- Encouraging visits of people associated with education and research.
“We can consider initiating an India-US Teachers Exchange Program in this regard …I would like to see students from America come to India under student exchange programs, where they can experience and explore India. I have hope and confidence that the day is not far when the youth of the “Navajo Nation” will sit in Nagaland, India, collaborating with their friends to co-develop an idea and a project,” he said. .
He also referred to Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in 2015 in order to enhance engagement with scientists and entrepreneurs spread across the world. Under this, India has welcomed 750 faculty members from the United States to India under this program. “I would like to request serving and retired individuals associated with education and research in the United States to consider spending their holidays, especially the winter break, in India. By doing so, they can not only explore India but also share their knowledge with the new generation of India,” the PM added. He also proposed considering discussing mutual recognition of vocational skill qualifications.
Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has welcomed the resolve by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President Joe Biden to deepen the strategic partnership between Indian and American universities.
Pradhan said that the recently launched India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is likely to usher in a new phase of partnership and accelerate the outcome, given the sizeable talent pool in India and the US, particularly in new age technologies and the synergistic R&D centers of excellence in our academic institutes
The Minister informed that the Joint Task Force constituted with Association of American Universities comprising of top IITs and IISc has been holding discussions in this regard.
He further said that as envisioned by our leaders, the Education Ministry will work to setup Indo-U.S. Global Challenge Institutes to deepen research partnerships and people-to-people exchanges in areas such as semiconductors, sustainable agriculture,clean energy, health and pandemic preparedness & emerging technologies.
He expressed his happiness that this formal partnership, with its complementary expertise and incorporation of industry collaboration and startup enablers, will facilitate free flow of ideas, student exchange and joint IPRs. This academic partnership will help in developing solutions for a sustainable and secure future. This is a historic moment when two strong nations are joining hands in education and research that is bound to make a global impact in the coming years, he added.
