Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan met with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday to discuss enhancing cooperation in education and research between the two nations. The dialogue focused on expanding collaboration in school education, vocational training, and research, with a focus on three core pillars: ‘Talent, Resources, and Markets.’
Pradhan emphasised that India considers Singapore a “trusted knowledge partner,” particularly in areas like deep technology, startups, and innovation. He noted that the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Wong has laid a solid foundation for a broad partnership in critical and emerging sectors, aiming to elevate the relationship to new heights.
Earlier, Pradhan also met with Singapore’s Minister for Education, Chan Chun Sing, to explore avenues for enhancing educational collaboration. Their discussions delved into the internationalization of India’s education system, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. They reviewed proposals for overseas internship programs that would provide Indian students with hands-on experience at Singaporean companies.
Another significant point of discussion was the potential for “twinning” schools between India and Singapore, a move aimed at fostering stronger cultural ties between students of both nations. Joint research efforts in areas such as deep technology, advanced materials, and medical innovation were also identified as critical areas for cooperation. Minister Pradhan highlighted the opportunity for partnerships between Singapore’s National Institute of Education and India’s NCERT in curriculum development, pedagogy, and teacher training.
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During his visit, Minister Pradhan also met with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, to further discuss the deepening of the India-Singapore Knowledge Partnership.
Additionally, Pradhan visited the National University of Singapore (NUS) and held discussions with its President, Prof. Tan Eng Chye, centered on building academic bridges and fostering collaborations between NUS and top Indian institutions, particularly in areas like healthcare, advanced materials, and sustainability.