The India-US Working Group on Education and Skill Development was established by the Indian Ministry of Education and the US Department of State with the goal of enhancing bilateral collaboration in the field. The Working Groups from India and the US were co-chaired by Neeta Prasad, Joint Secretary for International Cooperation, Ministry of Education, and Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, US Department of State.
On the margins of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between India and the US that was conducted in Washington, DC in April of last year, the leaders announced the formation of the India-US Working Group on Education and Skill Development.
Themes that were covered between the two parties included matchmaking between US and Indian higher educational institutions working with the commercial sector, certification and recognition, and skill-building and vocational education.
“Both sides agreed on the value of vocational training and education in today’s industry-focused society. Both parties agreed to promote cooperation between educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and relevant government agencies in order to connect skills training programmes with industry requirements. According to a senior MoE official, this agreement intends to close skills gaps, improve employability, and foster entrepreneurship in both countries.
“The delegates resolved to support and facilitate such alliances in order to promote intellectual and cultural interchange, raise the standard of instruction, and develop innovation and knowledge-sharing. Both parties concurred that stronger connections between educational institutions should be encouraged. The Indian side suggested that the possibility of creating joint, dual, and twinning courses in areas of shared interest be investigated, the official said.
The two parties recognised the value of working with the private sector to align the needs of the education sector with those of the job market, according to MoE officials.
“Both sides agreed to explore avenues to promote public-private partnerships in education and skill development initiatives,” the official stated.
The Indian side emphasised the necessity for swift visa issuance and reiterated their ongoing work on this issue, noting that student and faculty exchanges are at the core of the knowledge collaboration between both nations.
