Union Education Minister and French Higher Education Minister held talks discussing deepening bilateral cooperation in education, research and academic mobility, with France invited to open branch campuses in India
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi met his French counterpart, Philippe Baptiste, Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, in New Delhi on Tuesday for bilateral talks aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries in education, research, innovation, academic mobility and institutional partnerships.
Welcoming the French delegation, Joshi pointed to the long-standing India-France relationship and stressed that education remained a key pillar of the bilateral partnership. He noted that the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 offered a timely opportunity to further strengthen collaboration across education, research and innovation.
Talks cover institutional links, student mobility
During the discussions, both sides examined possible avenues for engagement in higher education, including strengthening institutional linkages, expanding mobility for students, faculty and researchers, and creating more opportunities for collaborative academic programmes and exchanges. The two ministers also explored deeper cooperation in life sciences, social sciences and the humanities, with a focus on institutional interaction, joint academic activities and research.
The ministers discussed ways to further promote knowledge partnerships between the two nations and considered opportunities to build on existing institutional collaborations while creating new avenues for joint academic and research initiatives. French higher education institutions were invited to consider opening branch campuses in India, including in GIFT City, Gujarat, as well as in locations where French companies are based and require a technically skilled workforce.
Focus on people-to-people ties and digital learning
Recognising the significance of people-to-people ties, both sides explored ways to strengthen language learning and teacher education, share academic expertise, and promote technology-enabled learning. The discussions also touched on the ongoing revision of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications Agreement between India and France, along with an exchange of experiences and best practices in digital education and the use of technology to expand access to quality learning.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening India-France cooperation in higher education, innovation, language education and digital learning.