INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CO-OPERATION WITH UNESCO

Unesco

About INC

Unescos Regional Offices

Themes

International Days

International Cooperation

Major Events/Visits during 2008-09

List of Countries Signed  EEPs/MOUs

Schemes

What is new

35 Unesco  General Conference

Links

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

<< Back

Overview

Since Independence, India’s cooperation with foreign countries in education sector used to be part of the Cultural Agreements. India has cultural agreements with 118 countries. About 75 CEPs were signed and most of them are periodically being renewed. Education component formed part of most of the CEPs. Department of Culture, the nodal Ministry for CEPs was also part of Ministry of HRD till recently.

The Ministry earlier had an External Academic Relations Unit in the UNESCO Division to handle bilateral relations. With the expansion of education sector and internationalization of education, an International Cooperation Cell has been set up in the Ministry of HRD. The IC Cell coordinates the work relating to bilateral and international collaboration in the Education sector and the formulation, implementation and monitoring of Educational Exchange Programmes (EEPs/MOUs) with various countries with a view to giving more focused attention to such collaboration.

A separate budget provision is made for international academic exchange activities of the Ministry. Initially, the Plan Scheme “Strengthening of External Academic Relations” was intended to facilitate exchange of Ministerial level delegations with foreign countries for furthering bilateral relations in education. However, the scope of the scheme has expanded considerably in recent years with several new initiatives in bilateral cooperation (major events).

Educational Exchange Programmes

Since 2002, the Ministry has entered into exclusive Educational Exchange Programmes (in some cases called MOUs) with 30 countries (list of EEPs/ MOUs). These include Mongolia, Armenia, Tanzania, Guyana, Israel, Australia, Myanmar, Hungary, Syria, Uzbekistan, New Zealand, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Brazil, Afghanistan, Croatia, Ecuador, Rwanda, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, China, Portugal, France, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Oman signed earlier. EEPs/MOUs with Norway, Chile and Kuwait were signed during 2008-09. In addition MOUs for mutual recognition and equivalence of degrees, diplomas and other educational qualifications with many countries are also under consideration.

The EEPs/MOUs provide for forming a Joint Working Group (JWG) to monitor the implementation of the programmes. The JWGs are co-chaired by representatives of the concerned Ministries in both countries and include representatives of organizations/ institutions in relevant areas. The JWGs meet annually in either country to review the progress of implementation of the exchange programmes. During 2008-09, the following JWG meetings were held:

a)   2nd Joint Working Group (JWG) on Education between India and Australia was held in New Delhi on 16.9.2008.

b)   India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Sectoral Working Group on Education meeting was held in New Delhi on 7.10.2008.
 

c)   Small Working Group meeting between India and New Zealand was held in New Delhi on 6.11.2008.

d)   1st Joint Working Group (JWG) on Education between India and United Kingdom was held via video conferencing on 6th February, 2009.

e)   1st Joint Working Group (JWG) on Education between India and Oman was held in Oman on 29-30 March, 2009.

The substance, scope and implementation of activities or cooperation within the terms of the EEP/MOU are determined by specific arrangements concluded between institutions in the two countries. The Universities and other higher education institutions in the country have autonomy to have collaborative arrangements with their counterparts in various countries. The Ministry facilitates such arrangements made on the basis of the provisions of EEP/MOU. The EEPs/MOUs envisage cooperation through several initiatives like:-

• Exchange of scholars/ students/ researchers;

• Sharing of information/ publications;

• Organizing joint seminars/ workshops/ conferences etc.;

• Working towards mutual recognition of qualifications;

• Developing institutional linkages; and

• Providing scholarships to students/researchers.

In addition to the meetings of JWGs, exchange of high level delegations are also facilitated. Specific sectoral agreements, where necessary, are being signed by Indian apex bodies/Universities with their foreign counterparts.

Other forms of international cooperation

Apart from the EEPs/MOUs, the Ministry also takes an active role in Joint Commission Meetings (JCM) and other economic/technical forums for cooperation with other countries. In addition, the Ministry has been making efforts for strengthening cooperation with foreign countries through other mechanisms too. As part of this, a trilateral MoU between India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) is in place since 2007 for cooperation in the field of higher education. Another MoU was signed on 21st January 2008 between Ministry of Human Resource Development and British High Commission for operation of the India-UK Higher Education Leadership Development Programme. Further, a Joint Statement between India and UK for strengthening cooperation and exchange in education was issued on 26th September 2008. A Joint Declaration was signed on 12th November, 2008 on cooperation in the field of Education between India & European Union. This was followed by signing of another Joint Declaration on multilingualism between India & European Union on 7th March, 2009.

The Ministry of HRD has been playing a significant role in international organizations like Commonwealth, SAARC and UNESCO for promoting educational standards across the globe. The Ministry is also playing a pivotal role in activities of multilateral bodies like ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Arab League, Indian Ocean RIM, OECD, EU etc. The Ministry, through IC Cell and HE Bureau, is actively involved in the establishment of the world-class international higher educational institution, viz., “South Asian University” in New Delhi under SAARC.