The Education Ministers of India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conducted a virtual meeting today. H.E Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, United Arab Emirates, and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ addressed the potential for developing India-UAE educational ties.

An International Students Office at each HEI (higher education institutions) hosting foreign students, superior residential facilities, and an overall enhancement in the quality of education are among the steps being planned, according to a statement released today.

Mr. Pokhriyal stated at the virtual bilateral meeting that an agreement on educational collaboration between India and the UAE is nearing completion. He believed that it would improve intellectual collaboration between the two countries’ higher education institutions.

Mr Pokhriyal said: “India and the UAE share a very strong and deep bilateral relationship, and both sides have been working together to strengthen educational cooperation and collaboration.” He invited students from the UAE to study in India under the Study in India Program and faculty from the UAE to take short-term courses in Indian universities under the GIAN programme.

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Mr Pokhriyal also praised the new National Education Strategy, describing it as a ‘forward-looking policy’ that will better link Indian education with foreign systems.

 “The policy is a visionary document since it focuses focus on overall development of students,” stated H.E Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education.

He went on to say that the education sector has the potential to push bilateral collaboration to new heights, and that both nations should endeavour to strengthen long-term educational collaboration. The Minister emphasised that the National Education Policy would provide inclusive and equitable quality education for all, as well as encourage lifelong learning for everyone, in order to accomplish vital targets and SDG goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he noted.

Jameela AlMuhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, and H.E Dr Ahmed Abdul Rahman AlBanna, UAE Ambassador to India, were also present at the virtual bilateral meeting. The conference was also attended by Secretary of Higher Education Amit Khare, as well as senior officials from the UAE’s Education Ministry and Ministry of Education.