A HIGH-profile British delegation will focus on student mobility and employability during its visit to India next week.
Vice-chancellors and chief executives from more than 20 leading British institutions will visit India from Monday (2).
The delegation will discuss a number of subjects, such as internationalisation of higher education institutions and research collaborations, during the nearly seven-day-long talks in New Delhi and Hyderabad.
The British Council will host the delegation as part of the higher education-focused bilateral programme of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).
Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International (UUKi), said: "UUKi is delighted to have recently launched a call for applications for the UKIERI Study in India programme, which will support up to 200 UK students to study in India by March 2021.
“Through our visit, we hope to identify such new opportunities for the two-way exchange of staff and students, as well as collaborative research," she said.
UUKi is the UK’s university representative body.
Tom Birtwistle, Director North, British Council India, said: "The visit comes at an interesting time; the proposals for higher education raised in the Draft National Education Policy (NEP) will give the delegation much to talk about on potential collaborations with their counterparts and policy makers in India.”
The UKIERI programme is a long-term commitment between India and the UK for joint work in the field of higher education and research.
The India Budget 2019 and recommendations as part of the country’s Draft NEP will be discussed during the high-profile meet.
The bilateral meet will also focus on the Indian government’s emphasis on higher education and the reforms required to future-proof graduates produced by the education system.
Against the backdrop of the NEP 2019, the British delegation will hold discussions with government organisations and university heads in India to discuss current and future policies, and identify areas of mutual interest.
The delegation and the Indian experts will also focus on how British and Indian institutions can work together to ensure that graduates are equipped for a changing world of employability.
