Education Minister Pradhan invites foreign universities to expand higher education ties with India

India is positioning itself as a global hub for higher education collaboration, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urging foreign universities to partner with the country’s expanding and innovation-focused academic ecosystem.

Addressing diplomats from more than 50 countries at the Study in India Edu Diplomatic Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Pradhan called for deeper international engagement with Indian institutions.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Education at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, brought together Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and representatives of diplomatic missions to explore avenues for strengthening global cooperation in higher education.

Highlighting reforms introduced under the National Education Policy 2020, Pradhan said India has made notable progress in internationalizing its education system, with an emphasis on quality, innovation, and affordability.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of Independence, the minister said the country continues to stand out in the global economic landscape and offers extensive opportunities for learning, research, and innovation.

“India invites the world to study, innovate, and grow together,” Pradhan said, stressing that education serves as a durable link between societies amid global change.

He said India’s strengths include its dynamic knowledge network, demographic advantage, and growing economy. Through NEP 2020 and the Study in India initiative, the country is expanding global access for students, researchers, and academic institutions.

Pradhan pointed to emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, and sustainable energy as areas where India is developing as a reliable innovation partner.

He said the country is promoting a collaborative model for the Global South centered on shared knowledge and capacity building.

Encouraging the diplomatic community to foster closer ties, the minister emphasized the multidisciplinary and accessible nature of India’s higher education system.

Secretary of Higher Education Dr Vineet Joshi said NEP 2020 has guided higher education reforms over the past six years, particularly in advancing multidisciplinary learning, embedding skill development into mainstream curricula, and enhancing global engagement.

He highlighted that Indian universities are broadening their international reach through joint, dual, and twinning programs, while leading institutions are expanding their presence overseas.

Dr Joshi also said the University Grants Commission has introduced a transparent and time bound regulatory framework that allows foreign universities to establish campuses in India.

Applications from institutions in Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States have been processed within a month under the 2023 regulations, he added.

The conclave included thematic sessions on Indian Knowledge Systems, academic collaboration under SPARC and GIAN, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, regulations for foreign university campuses, international branch campuses, skill internationalization, and Bharat Innovates 2026.

Participants discussed practical pathways for cooperation, including student mobility, joint academic programs, research partnerships, and the establishment of overseas campuses in India.

The Study in India Edu Diplomatic Conclave 2026 served as a platform to advance India’s education diplomacy, inviting students from partner nations to pursue higher education and short-term courses in India while encouraging globally ranked universities to set up campuses in the country.