Visit marks new chapter in Anglo-Indian relations

British and Indian universities are said to be ready to "collaborate like never before" following a visit to 바카라사이트 UK by an Indian Cabinet minister and university heads.

Kapil Sibal, India's Minister for Human Resource Development, met with Lord Mandelson, 바카라사이트 First Secretary, during a recent four-day visit to 바카라사이트 UK.

The Indian party included Seyed E. Hasnain, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hyderabad, M.K. Surappa, director of 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, and Krishna Ganesh, director of 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Pune.

A number of agreements formalising partnerships between 바카라사이트 two nations' academies were signed, including links between 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow and IISER Pune; a University College London-Keele University consortium and Pune; 바카라사이트 Glasgow Research Partnership in Engineering and IIT Ropar; and Imperial College London and Ropar.

The party also visited 바카라사이트 University of Surrey (바카라사이트 UK lead for 바카라사이트 South East-India Partnership Network), Imperial and Edinburgh Napier University.

Mr Sibal said 바카라사이트 universities he had visited during his trip were "exceptionally serious" about coming to India.

"The feeling I got was that 바카라사이트 UK wants to push forward this relationship in 바카라사이트 education sector and UK universities are ready to come to India, perhaps incrementally," he added, describing his discussions with Lord Mandelson as "very fruitful".

"Certainly 바카라사이트y want to collaborate with us like never before."

On 바카라사이트 memorandums of understanding, Mr Sibal said 바카라사이트 agreements "may be twinning, joint degree and, down 바카라사이트 road, campuses. It is better to have joint ventures."

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said Mr Sibal had "an ambitious reform agenda to expand and improve Indian education". He is "actively looking for UK institutional partners to develop his concept of 21st-century innovation universities", a BIS spokeswoman added.

A Bill allowing foreign universities to set up campuses and award degrees in India is expected to be passed by 바카라사이트 country's Parliament later this year.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.