India China Economic and Cultural Council

Fostering Collaboration between India and China in the Education Sector

Fostering Collaboration between India and China in the Education Sector

1. Perspective

1.1 India and China, with a population of more than 2.5 Billion people, have the ability to
transform the world economy. The two countries have witnessed significant growth rates in the
past few years and have the largest talent pools of scientists, engineers, technicians & managers.
The economy of the People's Republic of China is the second largest in the world with a GDP of
$7.8 trillion (2008)1 along with the economy of India, the fourth largest in the world with a GDP
of $3.26 trillion (2008)2, when measured on a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis.

1.2 In the recent years, trade and economic cooperation has also been increasing between
the two countries. Diplomatic relations notwithstanding, bilateral trade between India and
China is growing more than 50% year-on-year and is slated to cross the $100-billion mark in
three years3. In terms of investment, there has been vigorous movement of investors both ways.
As per the statistics available from Indian Embassy in Beijing and China Ministry of Commerce,
Chinese investments in India stood at US$ 16 million with FDI of US$ 34 million from India into
China for the year 2007. There exists tremendous opportunities for further trade and investment
in various sectors of India and China with enormous potential for mutualism and collaboration
between India and China.

1.3 India and China have signed a strategic memorandum in September 2006 on science and
technology cooperation in areas of environment and energy, biotech and agronomy, climate
change and Nanotechnology4. The two sides also released a joint declaration in November 2006
on boosting cooperation in science and technology and revitalizing and nurturing people to
people exchange between India and China5. But so far India and China have not been able to
fully explore the strengths of each other and there exists a gap in the advancement of cultural,
intellectual and educational linkages between India and China.

1.4 The two countries need to come together and form productive collaborations in the
educational and cultural sector to make use of the opportunities and markets in India and
China leading to achievement of the economic and development goals of the two countries.
Such educational collaborations and linkages would further lead to discovery and expansion of
knowledge, capabilities and technologies of India and China. The businesses of the two
countries need to promote education, cultural and intellectual exchange and cooperation to
create a globally competitive workforce.

1.5 Therefore, India-China Economic and Cultural Council has taken up the initiative to foster
emergence and development of knowledge based collaborations and linkages between India
and China in the education sector with the following objectives:

1
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook
2
Ibid.
3
Trade between India and China to cross the $100-billion mark: Study, 28th March 2009, The Economic Times
<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2905591.cms>
4
Press Releases by Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India < http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release06/india-china.htm >
5
Joint Declaration by the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China <http://meaindia.nic.in/declarestatement/2006/11/21jd01.htm>
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 India China Economic and Cultural Council
Fostering Collaboration between India and China in the Education Sector

 To provide a platform for students, academicians, intellectuals and policy makers of India
and China in the education sector to come together, interact and learn from each others.

 To promote efforts for establishment of centers of joint learning between India and China in
areas of science, technology and culture.

 To help establish educational linkages, exchange programs and knowledge based

collaborations between educational institutions in India and China.

1.6 ICEC Council plans to organize the following activities in the coming future for
achievement of these objectives-

1.6.1 Conferences, Education Fairs and Seminars

 ICEC Council aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between India and China
through conferences and seminars which would provide a platform for policy makers,
academicians and various intellectuals to discuss key topics, find solutions to scientific and
technical problems and formulate strategies for deeper and fruitful relationships in the
education sector between India and China.

 ICEC Council also looks forward to encourage establishment of knowledge based

collaborations between academic institutions and students in India and China through
Education Fairs and Seminars which would provide an insight to students about the education
and research programs being offered by various institutions in India and China.

 Such events would also offer under one roof a unique opportunity to the aspiring students
to meet the need based requirement of industry and to management, technical & professional
institutions to showcase their strength.

1.6.2 Joint R&D Programs

 Borders are dissolving between India and China and there is unprecedented mobility of
people, ideas and technologies. In the joint declaration released by India and China in
November 2006, the two sides agreed to launch joint projects in the areas of earthquake
engineering, climate change and weather forecasting, nanotechnology with focus on advanced
materials, and biotechnology and medicines with focus on bio-nanotechnology. Both sides also
agreed to strengthen cooperation in field of nuclear energy and in use of space-based
technologies for peaceful and developmental purposes.

 ICEC Council, along with governments of India and China, aims to further initiate and
promote bilateral partnerships and joint research and development programme between India
and China. Researchers, scientists and technicians from India and China could be provided an
opportunity to work with the government and private sector of India and China and conduct
joint studies and develop innovations in science and technology (S&T) for peaceful purposes in
fields of common interest and on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

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India China Economic and Cultural Council
8/22, South Patel Nagar, New Delhi – 110008, India Tele-Fax: +91-11-29533667 Website: http://www.icec-
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 India China Economic and Cultural Council
Fostering Collaboration between India and China in the Education Sector

 Areas of clean and energy efficient technologies, efficient automobile technologies,

medicine, manufacturing and agriculture offer tremendous potential for India and China to do
research studies and develop joint innovations.

1.6.3 Student and Faculty Exchange and Visits

 In search of best brains, skills and talents; universities have to go far beyond their traditional
borders to find those resources. In 2006, India and China, agreed to work towards the
establishment of an “India-China Exchange Foundation” and also agreed to launch a five-year
programme for mutual exchange of youth delegations. The Chinese side invited five hundred
youth from India over the next five years.

 In association with institutions and policy makers from India and China, ICEC Council aims
to take forward this initiative and promote and organize regular students and faculty exchange
and educational visits between universities of India and China to enable sharing and learning
from experiences of each other and enter into fruitful and knowledge sharing discussions for
growth and development of India and China.

1.6.4 Formulation of Course Curriculum

 There exists various technical, language and cultural barriers between India and China.
ICEC Council along with government bodies and universities in India and China would like to
engage itself in bridging this gap by formulation of specialized technical, professional and
cultural courses for students in India and China.

 The course syllabus will acquaint students in India and China about various technologies,
business practices and commerce in India and China and culture and languages of the two
countries. The courses will cater to the specific demand of the industry in India and China and
train the students with specialized skills to deal with various technical and management
problems related to India and China.

 Indian students will get an opportunity to learn about various manufacturing technologies,
machinery, tools and equipment used in China and Chinese students can gain from India’s
expertise in agricultural and services sector. This will enable more fruitful and healthier
interaction between Indian and Chinese students, professionals and businesses.

2. Conclusion

2.1 With increasing trade and investment, India and China will require more intellectuals,
engineers, academicians and professionals who can take the right set of decisions and solve the
problems in the right manner. India and China need to strengthen research and development
activities leading to building of strong and lasting trade and investment relationships between
the two. This could only be possible when India and China come together and engage
themselves in promotion and strengthening of joint educational activities between the two
countries. Joint R&D programs, student and faculty exchange, formulation of courses etc are
some of the areas where there exists a huge potential for India and China to complement each
other and achieve high growth rates.
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India China Economic and Cultural Council
8/22, South Patel Nagar, New Delhi – 110008, India Tele-Fax: +91-11-29533667 Website: http://www.icec-
council.org