Dharmendra Pradhan’s visit to Singapore marks a new era in bilateral educational and research partnerships
India and Singapore are set to deepen their collaborative efforts in education and research, thanks to a pivotal meeting between Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong held on Monday (October 21, 2024). Their discussions marked a significant step toward enhancing the bilateral partnership between the two nations through three essential pillars: Talent, Resources, and Market.
According to India's Ministry of Education, the meeting, which took place in Singapore, underscored the importance of broadening cooperation in school education, vocational training, and research initiatives. Pradhan emphasised that India views Singapore as a trusted knowledge partner, particularly in advancing deep tech, start-ups, and the innovation ecosystem. He highlighted the shared vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Wong, both of whom have outlined a robust framework to elevate India-Singapore cooperation into a comprehensive partnership, including collaboration in critical and emerging sectors.
Focus on Educational Collaboration
Earlier in the day, Pradhan also met with Singapore’s Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing to explore new avenues for educational collaboration. The talks revolved around India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its focus on internationalising India’s education system. The two ministers discussed how NEP 2020 could be leveraged to create opportunities for Indian students, such as overseas internships in Singaporean companies.
A notable aspect of their discussions was the potential for twinning schools and universities in India and Singapore, which would allow students and educators from both countries to collaborate more closely. Additionally, there were talks of joint research collaborations in critical fields such as deep tech, medicine, and advanced materials.
Collaboration with Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE)
During his discussions with Minister Chan, Pradhan also highlighted the potential for collaboration between Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE) and India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
He extended an invitation to Minister Chan to visit India to further discussions and strengthen the educational ties between the two countries.
Meetings with Singapore’s Foreign Affairs and University Leaders
Pradhan’s visit also included a meeting with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, where both leaders reiterated the importance of deepening the India-Singapore Knowledge Partnership. They emphasized the need for both countries to work closely to advance shared educational objectives and expand collaborative efforts in areas of mutual interest.
In addition, the Union Minister visited the National University of Singapore (NUS) and met with Professor Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS, to explore opportunities for further collaboration between NUS and India’s leading higher education institutions. The discussions centred on creating value through partnerships in areas such as deep start-ups, healthcare, advanced materials, digitalisation, and sustainability—key areas that align with India’s NEP 2020 goals of enhancing access to quality higher education and increasing international collaboration.
India-Singapore: Trusted Partners in Innovation and Growth
Pradhan’s visit to Singapore comes at a time when India is actively looking to expand its educational footprint on the global stage. By establishing Singapore as a key knowledge partner, India aims to enhance its role in critical and emerging sectors, particularly in technology and innovation ecosystems. The discussions between the two nations are expected to lead to long-term collaborations that will benefit both Indian and Singaporean students, researchers, and educational institutions.
This initiative aligns with NEP 2020’s broader vision of making India’s education system more accessible, inclusive, and globally competitive.
On the first day of his visit, Pradhan engaged with members of the Indian diaspora in Singapore, where he emphasized the role of NEP 2020 in upskilling India’s youth. He highlighted the scale and magnitude of India’s education sector and the opportunities it presents for international partnerships.
Pradhan’s visit to Singapore is part of a larger mission to strengthen India’s educational ties with global partners. His visit from October 20-26, 2024, which will also include Australia, aims to foster collaboration and synergy in critical areas of mutual interest in education. The outcomes of these discussions are expected to lay the foundation for more robust and dynamic cooperation between India and Singapore in the years to come.
With a focus on talent development, resource sharing, and market opportunities, the India-Singapore educational partnership is poised to become a model for global collaboration in the knowledge economy.
According to India's Ministry of Education, the meeting, which took place in Singapore, underscored the importance of broadening cooperation in school education, vocational training, and research initiatives. Pradhan emphasised that India views Singapore as a trusted knowledge partner, particularly in advancing deep tech, start-ups, and the innovation ecosystem. He highlighted the shared vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Wong, both of whom have outlined a robust framework to elevate India-Singapore cooperation into a comprehensive partnership, including collaboration in critical and emerging sectors.
Focus on Educational Collaboration
Earlier in the day, Pradhan also met with Singapore’s Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing to explore new avenues for educational collaboration. The talks revolved around India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its focus on internationalising India’s education system. The two ministers discussed how NEP 2020 could be leveraged to create opportunities for Indian students, such as overseas internships in Singaporean companies.
A notable aspect of their discussions was the potential for twinning schools and universities in India and Singapore, which would allow students and educators from both countries to collaborate more closely. Additionally, there were talks of joint research collaborations in critical fields such as deep tech, medicine, and advanced materials.
Collaboration with Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE)
During his discussions with Minister Chan, Pradhan also highlighted the potential for collaboration between Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE) and India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
He extended an invitation to Minister Chan to visit India to further discussions and strengthen the educational ties between the two countries.
Meetings with Singapore’s Foreign Affairs and University Leaders
Pradhan’s visit also included a meeting with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, where both leaders reiterated the importance of deepening the India-Singapore Knowledge Partnership. They emphasized the need for both countries to work closely to advance shared educational objectives and expand collaborative efforts in areas of mutual interest.
In addition, the Union Minister visited the National University of Singapore (NUS) and met with Professor Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS, to explore opportunities for further collaboration between NUS and India’s leading higher education institutions. The discussions centred on creating value through partnerships in areas such as deep start-ups, healthcare, advanced materials, digitalisation, and sustainability—key areas that align with India’s NEP 2020 goals of enhancing access to quality higher education and increasing international collaboration.
India-Singapore: Trusted Partners in Innovation and Growth
Pradhan’s visit to Singapore comes at a time when India is actively looking to expand its educational footprint on the global stage. By establishing Singapore as a key knowledge partner, India aims to enhance its role in critical and emerging sectors, particularly in technology and innovation ecosystems. The discussions between the two nations are expected to lead to long-term collaborations that will benefit both Indian and Singaporean students, researchers, and educational institutions.
This initiative aligns with NEP 2020’s broader vision of making India’s education system more accessible, inclusive, and globally competitive.
On the first day of his visit, Pradhan engaged with members of the Indian diaspora in Singapore, where he emphasized the role of NEP 2020 in upskilling India’s youth. He highlighted the scale and magnitude of India’s education sector and the opportunities it presents for international partnerships.
Pradhan’s visit to Singapore is part of a larger mission to strengthen India’s educational ties with global partners. His visit from October 20-26, 2024, which will also include Australia, aims to foster collaboration and synergy in critical areas of mutual interest in education. The outcomes of these discussions are expected to lay the foundation for more robust and dynamic cooperation between India and Singapore in the years to come.
With a focus on talent development, resource sharing, and market opportunities, the India-Singapore educational partnership is poised to become a model for global collaboration in the knowledge economy.