India and Uzbekistan expand cooperation in education
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — India and Uzbekistan have agreed to raise educational cooperation to a new level, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research and partnerships between universities, Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said at a press briefing following the Indian prime minister’s state visit to Uzbekistan.
According to George, education is an important element of bilateral partnership. About 16,000 Indian students are currently studying medicine in Uzbekistan, while four Indian universities have branches in the country. “We already have a base. Now we have agreed to take it to a higher level of cooperation,” George said, adding that this would include partnerships between individual universities of the two countries.
The diplomat noted that the Indian prime minister had also mentioned GIFT City, a special zone that India is opening for branches of foreign universities, and said this was being considered as another opportunity for cooperation in education.
Following the visit, the Indian prime minister announced the establishment of 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri scholarships for Uzbek students who have achieved the best academic results to study the Hindi language. The initiative is timed to the 60th anniversary of the death of former Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent.
It was also announced that an Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Sanskrit chair would be established at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. According to George, the initiative will strengthen the longstanding academic and civilizational ties between the two countries.
Speaking about opportunities for young people, the diplomat noted that the strategic development programmes of the two countries share common goals: Uzbekistan’s programme through 2030 and India’s “Developed India — 2047” programme. He said common objectives for economic progress create additional opportunities for cooperation and the creation of new jobs for young people in both countries.
