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Union Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan conducted a bilateral meeting in Bali with South Africa Minister of Higher Education, Science Innovation Dr. Bonginkosi Emmanuel Blade NZIMANDE. The Ministers had a productive discussion on bolstering the academic and skill development partnerships and bilateral education cooperation.

An Education Ministry release said that the ministers agreed to create institutional mechanisms for tie-ups between higher education institutions and skill institutions, capacity-building in skill development, and mutual recognition of skill qualifications. They also decided to set up a Joint Working Group on Education between the two countries to extend the already existing teamwork and to realize the full potential of bilateral cooperation in education.

Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the Introduction of the National Education Policy 2020 paved the way for the internationalization of Indian education. He mentioned that the relations between India and South Africa are close and friendly and are rooted in shared values and interests. Pradhan gave his vote of thanks to the South African minister for his keenness to heighten engagements in education and skill development and for all the support for India’s presidency in furthering the G20 EdWG agenda.

The Union Education Minister also visited the Gusti Bagus Sugriwa University in Bali. He said that University is a contemplation of the pluralistic ethos of Indonesia and a celebration of standard roots, identity, and in-depth cultural connections between Indonesia and India. Pradhan explored opportunities for institutional relations with higher educational institutions in India and academic collaboration in the domain of Sanskrit language, Yoga, Philosophy, and Ayurveda. He added that powerful partnerships and student exchange between Sugriwa University and Indian HEIs would pave the way for widening the understanding of Hinduism and the shared spiritual, economic, and cultural ties.

Minister Pradhan also visited the International Institute of Tourism and Business (Institute Pariwisata dan Bisnis International), Bali. He had a synopsis of the credit frameworks, training facilities, pathways to student mobility, skilling programs, and future plans. He stated that collaborations or partnerships in skilling would foster tourismpreneurship to help develop capacities in emerging areas of tourism, business, travel, and hospitality and encourage people-to-people connections.