Union Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually held a meeting with H.E Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, the United Arab Emirates today. Her Excellency Jameela AlMuhairi, Minister of State for Public Education;H.E Dr. Ahmed Abdul Rahman AlBanna, UAE Ambassador to India were present in the meeting. Secretary, Higher Education Shri Amit Khare, Senior officials from Education Ministry and Ministry of Education of UAE also attended the meeting.

H.E Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, the United Arab Emirates appreciated the National Education Policy- 2020. He said that the policy is a visionary document as it lays emphasis on holistic development of the students.He said that the education sector has the potential to take mutual cooperation to new heightsand both the countries should work to increase long-term cooperation in the field of education.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Pokhriyal said that India and UAE share a very strong and deep bilateral relationship and both sides have been working together to strengthen educational cooperation and collaboration. This meeting is being held with a view to further deepen our relations especially in the field of education by way of continuous dialogue and by enhancing active, interactive and long term collaborations at various levels, he added.

The Minister invited students from UAE to India under our Study in India Programme andinvitedmore number of faculties to India for taking short-term courses in Indian universities under GIAN programme.

Highlighting National Education Policy, the Minister said it is very forward looking policy which will change the entire education landscape of the country, making it more aligned to global systems. It keeps choice of the student at the centre, and has recommended flexibility in choice of subjects and fluidity between different streams, he added. The Minister stated that NEP is built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. It will ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, and promote lifelong learning for all, so that critical targets and SDG goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be achieved, he added.

Shri Pokhriyal further highlighted thatthere is a lot of focus on internationalization of education. For giving impetus to Internationalization, following are being planned such as Foreign Students Office in each HEI hosting foreign students, Quality residential facilities, Improve overall Quality of Education,Reforms will make Indian systems aligned to International Curricula, Regulations being put in place to allow Joint Degrees, Twinning Arrangements and Dual Degrees between Indian and Foreign institutions, etc. He also said that aCommon Portal for admission to Indian universities with details of all courses is also being contemplated of. The Minister hoped for an enhanced, deeper and more meaningful academic cooperation between the educational institutions in both the countries under our new policy.

Shri Pokhriyal informed thatan MOU on cooperation in the field of Education between India and UAE is at an advanced stage of finalization. He hoped that it would enhance academic collaboration between the higher educational institutions of our countries. He thanked the Ministry of Education for hisinterest in enhancing academic collaboration between both the countries. India is also eager to move towards deepening our mutual engagements and cooperation, he added.

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MC/KP/AK