India and Germany to Further Strengthen ties over Education

In order to strengthen ties between the two countries, India and Germany have decided to venture together into the higher education sector and help each other in the field of research, skill development and faculty exchange and development.

The two governments would sign the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) which would be there with some minor amendments from the earlier MoU. The signing of this declaration was approved by the Indian Union Cabinet which is chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The proposed JDI would implement the ‘Indo-German Partnerships in Higher Education’ and strengthen ties between the two counties even further.

According to a government statement, “By signing the JDI, the term ‘strategic’ will be deleted from the title of the programme to make it ‘Indo-German Partnership in Higher Education’ and the funding period for the programme will be changed from 2015-19 to 2016-20.”

Answering a query about whether the recent controversial decision of the Indian government to exclude German with Sanskrit as the third language in the Kendriya Vidyalayas around the nation would effect the ties between the two countries, the Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “We do not want to make relationship between India and Germany Sanskrit-centric.” He further pointed that cooperation is needed between the two countries in order to go smooth with further ties in education sphere.

This agreement between the two countries would help the higher education institutes in both the countries and there could be possible avenues explored in the field of education, research and skill development through the mutual talent pool of these universities. It would also develop the faculty skills and advanced research would get a boost, especially in the areas where India is still facing challenges to grow.