European Commission and Government of India sign Joint Declaration on policy dialogue in education

Press Release (P&I/2008/018)

European Commission and Government of India sign Joint Declaration on policy dialogue in education

Brussels, 12 November 2008

On his first official visit to India, the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Jan Figel‘ today signed a Joint Declaration with his ministerial counterpart in the field of education. With this Declaration the European Commission and the Government of India aim to reinforce their cooperation in the form of a policy dialogue on key issues in education.

The Commissioner’s trip to India is from 10-12 November 2008. Commissioner Figel‘ underlined the importance of furthering cooperation on education and culture between the EU and India: “In the context of the India-EU strategic partnership, a reinforced dialogue with an exchange on policy issues will be mutually beneficial. It can provide both sides with a new stimulus for the formulation of the strategies we need in order to respond to the challenges of the contemporary world, in particular against the backdrop of increasing globalisation. Here, India and the EU can build on a number of successful joint initiatives, which include, for example, the increasingly popular Erasmus Mundus programme. India has been at the forefront of this programme, with 1,103 Indian students (out of 6,181 in total) and 90 scholars (out of 1,125 in total) who have benefited from Erasmus Mundus scholarships for study and research in Europe.“

In a meeting with the Indian Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Arjun Singh, Commissioner Figel’ and his counterparts today signed a Joint Declaration in the field of education to formally mark the launch of a policy dialogue between the European Commission and the Government of India.

This visit occurs as a follow-up to the EU-India Summit in Marseille on 29 September 2008, during which EU and India leaders committed themselves to promoting a dialogue in the area of education. This policy-oriented initiative builds on rich and diversified cooperation in education already developed through EU-funded programmes. The dialogue is a mutually beneficial mechanism for the exchange of information and experiences, of best practices, as well as a process of peer learning between administrations.

Among the areas that could be covered by the policy dialogue on education are a modernisation agenda for higher and vocational education, quality assurance mechanisms as well as the promotion of academic excellence and innovation.

On the occasion of his visit, the Commissioner also paid a visit to the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi and attended the India-EU Higher Education Cooperation Symposium as well as the European Higher Education Fair, financed by the European Commission under the new EU-Asia Higher Education Platform.

EUROPEAN UNION
Delegation of the European Commission to India, Bhutan and Nepal
65 Golf Links, New Delhi, 110 003, India
Tel: (+91-11) 2462.9237, Fax: (+91-11) 2462.9206
website: www.delind.ec.europa.eu

To find out more:

European Commission: External Relations: The EU-India Summit, 29 September 2008
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/india/summit_en.htm

The European Commission’s Delegation to India
http://www.delind.ec.europa.eu/en/index.htm

European Higher Education Fair (EFEF), New Delhi, 12-14 November 2008
http://www.ehef-newdelhi08.org

Study in Europe portal
http://www.study-in-europe.org

EU-Asia Higher Education Platform
http://www.eahep.org

Erasmus Mundus
http://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc72_en.htm