The Ministry of Education (MoE), the Government of India, and the United States (US) Department of State virtually launched the India-US Working Group on Education and Skill Development on May 22nd, 2023. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between the two nations in education and skill development.
The co-chairpersons for the Working Group are Ms. Neeta Prasad, Joint Secretary for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and Mr. Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, representing India and the US, respectively.
The leaders announced on the sidelines of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between India and the US, held in Washington, DC, on April 11th, 2022.
The following sub-topics during the meeting focused on:
- Skilling and vocational education
- Certification and recognition
- Establishing collaborations between U.S. and Indian higher educational institutions
- Engaging with the Private Sector
Both sides acknowledged the pivotal role of skilling and vocational education in an industry-centred era. Recognizing the imperative to align skills training programs with industry demands, both parties expressed their commitment to fostering partnerships among educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and relevant government agencies. This collaborative effort aims to address skills gaps, enhance employability, and promote entrepreneurship in both countries.
During the discussions, significant emphasis was placed on the importance of certification and recognition mechanisms. The Indian delegation highlighted the crucial need for mutual recognition of academic qualifications and skill certifications, as it plays a vital role in ensuring the quality and portability of skills across borders. This mutual recognition is a crucial facilitator for the seamless mobility of students and professionals between the two countries.
Both delegations highlighted the benefits of student and faculty exchanges, joint research programs, and collaborative projects to foster academic and cultural exchange, enhance educational quality, and promote innovation. The proposal to explore joint/dual and twinning courses was put forth to encourage greater inter-linkages and mutual interests.
India and the US acknowledged the importance of private sector engagement in aligning the education sector with the job market. They agreed to explore public-private partnerships to drive innovation, create job opportunities, and support education and skill development initiatives.
Noting that student and faculty exchanges are at the heart of both countries’ knowledge partnerships, the Indian side emphasized the need for expeditious visa issuance and identified their continued efforts in this area.
The delegations from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing Indian and the US collaboration in education and skill development. The Joint Working Group agreed to continue conducting its scheduled meetings and look at practical options for advancing India-US collaboration on education and skill development.
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