It has been more than 60 years since India and the EU established a strategic alliance, establishing a relationship founded on a global system based on rules, multilateralism, and mutually beneficial sustainable goals(European Commission, n.d.).Trade contacts, migration for jobs and education, and different measures towards internationalising higher education have all strengthened bilateral relations between the two countries.
This article examines the primary factors contributing to the Indo-EU relationship in the internationalisation of higher education. Historically,the India-EU Collaboration Agreement, signed in 1994, encouraged and improved political, economic, and sectorial collaboration between India and the EU(Press and information team of the delegation to India and Bhutan, 2021).This was then developed by India, which was one of the first countries to establish bilateral relations with the EU in 1992 through a series of mutually beneficial agreements, which were the primary precursors for the strong alliance between the countries (Indian Embassy Brussels, 2024).Furthermore, the 2004 India-EU Agreement strengthened strategic links by establishing collaborations in commerce, energy efficiency, food security, employment rights, and public health(Novotna, 2023). This cooperation benefited both countries, introduced European technology into Indian companies, and enhanced the mobility of professionals and students to and from Europe.
India-EU relations in terms of Internationalisation of Higher Education
Over the past two decades, India’s internationalisation of higher education has rapidly expanded due to competitive admissions and limited spots in top institutions. There has been a rapid increase in students going to the EU from India and vice versa for various purposes such as research, higher education and teaching, thereby paving the way for improving relations in terms of mobility.
In India, the National Education Policy (NEP, 2020) is a cohesive document detailingIndia’s ambition to internationalise its higher education institutions.It signpostspathways forIndian universities to shift focus on enhancing efforts towards internationalisation at home, develop indigenous courses and programmes native to India, andfoster research and teaching, collaborations and staff exchange programmes. It also aims to set up Indian institutions abroad and conduct twinning, joint and dual degree programmes by laying down a mandatory study period for the same, making it easier for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to access these programmes after completing the required duration of study in India (Piplani-Kapur and Jiva, 2024). The NEP also emphasises internationalisation at home by creating a welcoming atmosphere for foreign students in Indian universities by setting upOffices for International Affairs and Alumni Connect Cell on the campuses of universities hosting international students.The guidelines underthe document provide measures for internationalisation at home by laying down the creation of an internationalised curriculum and a multidisciplinary education, which will also enhance employment (Ministry of Education, Government of India, 2023).
In the European Union, the Internationalisation of higher education is mainly supported and developed by the Erasmus+ programmelaunched in 1987. This initiative works towards offering mobility, research, training, and capacity building in higher education and has contributed to spreading European culture and further strengthening Indo-EU ties in higher education. It has made students more capable of being employed by imparting transversal skills that have become necessary in today’s multicultural societies and work environments. Dual vocational education and training are also now being sought to be taught to tackle skill mismatches and youth unemployment to improve global industrial competitiveness and social cohesion. However, funding through various EC Schemes is still majorly diverted towards STEM courses and should be enhanced for disciplines such as arts, social sciences and humanities(Piplani-Kapur and Jiva, 2024). One such good endeavour is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, a component of the Erasmus+ programme. It provides scholarships for top-ranked students’ covering their tuition, travel, and living expenses(TNN, 2022).
In the recent past, the “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” signed between India and the EU on 15 July 2020 aims to enhance strategic relations across multiple sectors. It focuses on mutual benefits and reciprocity in research and innovation, expanding cooperation under Horizon Europe and similar Indian programs, particularly in health, bio-economy, and technology, while promoting gender equality. The agreement emphasiseshigh-level dialogue on migration, market alignment, and crisis management for mobility. In education, it boosts cooperation in research, ERASMUS programs, and faculty/student exchanges, fostering internationalisation and cultural diplomacy (Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 2020). This strategy between the countries still needs to be further strengthened. The relations have seen some progress, particularly in the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, and more focus needs to be drawn towards other areas. Since this strategy will be coming to an end in a few years, it is time to launch a new roadmap that focuses on acting on areas other than trade and develops relations in terms of research, innovation and higher education, particularly internationalisation between the two nations(Crabtree & Reuter, 2024).These programmes in the EU and India have contributed towards developing significant relations between these and paved the way for further development through more investment in these areas.
Future Prospects
In terms of future prospects, the internationalisation of higher education should also be more focused on increasing reciprocity and expanding educational cooperation. Steps should be taken in line with more robust academic exchange programmes, increased funds for disciplines such as social sciences and humanities, and joint research hubs to strengthen ties further should be established. The countries can work towards harmonising qualifications to facilitate student mobility and align curricula to ensure students are prepared for the global job market. Cross-border academic collaboration can also be fostered by mutually recognising degrees and credentials. Further, joint degrees and twinning programmes should expand the partnership between India and European higher education institutions and enable students from varied socio-economic backgrounds to benefit from international education. Additionally, the National Education Policy of India and the Erasmus+ programme of the EU should promote multidisciplinary studies and research projects that address global issues such as climate change, public health and digital transformation.
Therefore, fostering relations through collaborative research, capacity building, and the development of joint institutions will lead to a more interconnected educational landscape between India and the EU. This will boost ties and enhance global competitiveness and the production of innovative human capital.
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