Speaking from Delhi as part of the UK government trade mission to India, Universities UK President Professor Steve Smith today underlined the importance of higher education in the UK's future relationship with India.
Professor Smith was speaking after the Prime Minister David Cameron and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh agreed to the extension of the successful UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).
Professor Smith, along with other university leaders, was invited by the Prime Minister to join the UK delegation to India. The delegation also included Business Secretary Dr. Vince Cable and Universities and Science Minister David Willetts.
The Universities UK President noted that the scale of UK university activity in India was second to none. He also emphasised that this collaborative activity was about far more than student recruitment. This collaboration, he said, is about boosting the university systems and economic competitiveness of both countries.
Speaking after today’s meeting in Delhi, Professor Smith said: “We have been very impressed by the scale of the expansion in India's higher education system and are very pleased to be building upon the existing institutional links between UK and Indian HE institutions. Higher education is an integral means of deepening and broadening this important bilateral relationship with India.
“UK universities are already engaged in many forms of long-term teaching and research partnerships. But, as the Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has said, there is still more our two sectors could be doing together.
“I now look forward to returning in November with the Minister and a delegation of vice-chancellors in order to discuss further the means of increasing the level of university partnership activity between our two countries. We will be watching with interest the passage of the Foreign Education Providers Bill through (the Indian) parliament and also keenly await developments on the 14 innovation universities announced by the Government of India.”
Commenting on the debate about proposed changes to the UK’s immigration policy, Professor Smith added: “Universities in the UK share some of the concerns about proposed limits on migration that have been raised during the mission. Legitimate international mobility is a vital part of education partnerships and the UK’s immigration system must continue to facilitate the movement of highly talented staff and students into the UK. Anything that constrains this mobility will undermine our partnerships with India and other countries.”
Notes
- More information on today’s announcement is available.
- More information on the UKIERI programme is available online.
- Professor Steve Smith is President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter. Universities UK (UUK) is the representative organisation for the UK’s universities. Founded in 1918, its mission is to be the definitive voice for all universities in the UK, providing high quality leadership and support to its members to promote a successful and diverse higher education sector. With 133 members and offices in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, it promotes the strength and success of UK universities nationally and internationally.
- Other university leaders joining the Prime Minister’s delegation include: Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor Designate of the University of Cambridge; Sir Keith O'Nions, Rector of Imperial College London; and Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University.