Pune: India and UK to strengthen education, trade, and security ties; Delegation visit to Symbiosis International University

Lavale, 13th April 2023: India and UK share close and cordial relations in Education, political, economic, social and cultural spheres. This delegation aims to focus on improving people-to-people connections, human capital, defence and security ties, and cooperation in global commons such as climate, clean energy and healthcare. 

Prof. (Dr.) S B Mujumdar, Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, and Dr Rajani Gupte, Vice Chancellor, SIU, welcomed the delegation and discussed various collaborative areas to strengthen the India-UK bond. 

The National Education Policy of 2020 is a significant step in revamping higher Education in India. UK hosts some of the top-ranked universities. The NEP has opened various avenues to collaborate and offer joint /dual degrees, joint research etc. 

British MPs expressed that Symbiosis has laid the foundation for holistic, multidisciplinary Education. The university offers programmes under eight faculties: Law, Management, Engineering, Computer Studies, Architecture and Design, Medical and Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Media and Communication. Fully leveraging the opportunities that a multidisciplinary university can offer, the university offers programmes that cut across disciplines and liberal education programmes. Furthermore, with the adjacent technical institute and the Health care complex, this university has created a favourable eco-system to promote innovation and incubate start-ups to solve local problems.  

India and the UK share close and cordial relations in the Education, political, economic, social and cultural spheres. They have been strategic partners, and their relations have been strengthened over the year through several high-level visits and engagements at G2G, B2B and B2G levels. Through the Roadmap 2030, which provides an impetus for India- UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both countries will strive to enhance future relations in trade, investment and technological collaboration. The objective is to improve people-to-people connections, human capital, defence and security ties, and cooperation in global commons such as climate, clean energy and healthcare.

The two sides have also been propagators of parliamentary exchanges and dialogues to promote and facilitate regular exchanges between parliamentarians to foster deeper mutual understanding and strengthen democratic and institutional partnerships.

FICCI has spearheaded several initiatives with the UK. For example, the FICCI Forum of Parliamentarians is a Track II initiative for bipartisan outreach of FICCI, conceived in 2000. The Forum comprises MPs from across party lines who engage with their peers from other countries on the political, economic, and cultural relationships between India and the world. 

To enhance bilateral dialogue and cooperation between India and UK, FICCI established a bilateral forum, ‘India- UK Forum of Parliamentarians’ in 2003. Under the ambit of the Forum of Parliamentarians, FICCI’s India- UK Forum of Parliamentarians has been actively engaging with the MPs from both countries under this Track II initiative.

To further promote interparliamentary exchanges under this Track II initiative, FICCI partnered with the Ministry of External Affairs to organize the programme of British MPs visiting India in April 2023. 

The group’s focus is on three core areas:

Strengthen research and academic collaboration with Indian Universities, which are top-ranked 

Overcoming Barriers to Trade and Investment. The group addresses the trade issues businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors face in the UK and India. It works on targeted policies to overcome these and facilitate economic growth and stronger relations between the nations.

UK-India Free Trade Agreement- The Group has been actively tracking the updates in the ongoing FTA negotiations between India and UK. It focuses on the critical areas with interest to their constituency and beyond and participates in workshops and events with specialists on topics related to the FTA.

Creating a Living Bridge and Active Networks- The APPG’s goal has been to strengthen relationships between cross-party members in both Houses of Parliament and focus on enhancing dialogue and engagement across businesses, government and the community.

The Government of India is making significant efforts to implement NEP 2020. Therefore, India and the UK’s partnership in Education will forge new pathways in strengthening this mission.