India and Finland recently engaged in extensive discussions to strengthen their existing connections in the field of education. The Education Ministries of both countries conducted a dialogue on their respective policies in School Education, Vocational Education, and Higher Education. During these talks, the ministries explored opportunities to formulate concrete proposals and action plans, aiming to foster a more robust collaboration.
According to the Ministry of Education, the two sides showed special interest in collaborating on the capacity building of teachers, STEM educators, and the integration of digital technology across various educational areas. Both sides expressed a keen interest in research collaborations, particularly in the realms of new and emerging technologies, AI, Quantum Tech, sustainability, and climate change. The Indian delegation also provided insights into the new regulations implemented for the internationalization of higher education under NEP 2020.
India and Finland already have established collaborations in school and higher education as well as skill development. In December 2022, the two nations signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, paving the way for ongoing discussions on the mobility of trained manpower from India.
A collaborative statement was issued covering areas of shared interest, including early to senior secondary education, higher education, student mobility, and skill development.
In the realm of school education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) entered into a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Finnish National Agency of Education (EDUFI) in March 2022. The primary objective of this agreement is to enhance educational cooperation by facilitating the exchange of information and content in areas of common interest.
Within higher education, active collaboration between the two parties is evident through ongoing joint initiatives such as the Finnish Indian Consortium for Research and Education (FICORE), Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL), Scheme Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), and Global Initiative of Academic Network (GIAN).
