Pradhan Meets Singaporean PM to Enhance Educational Collaboration and Innovation

The discussions centred around three key pillars: Talent, Resource, and Market, aimed at elevating the partnership between India and Singapore.

Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, met with Singapore’s Prime Minister, H.E. Lawrence Wong, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in school education, vocational training, and research. The discussions centred around three key pillars: Talent, Resource, and Market, aimed at elevating the partnership between India and Singapore.

During the meeting, Shri Pradhan emphasized India's view of Singapore as a trusted knowledge partner, particularly in advancing deep technology, startups, and innovation ecosystems. He highlighted the strategic framework outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Wong to expand collaboration in critical and emerging sectors, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive partnership.

Earlier in the day, Shri Pradhan held discussions with Singapore’s Minister for Education, Mr. Chan Chun Sing. They explored avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various educational domains, focusing on the significance of India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in facilitating the internationalization of the education system. The ministers discussed potential overseas internship programs that would provide Indian students with practical experience in Singaporean companies, fostering real-world skills and exposure.

To enhance cultural ties between students from both countries, the possibility of twinning schools in India and Singapore was also deliberated. The ministers discussed collaborative research in areas of mutual interest, including deep tech, medicine, and advanced materials. Shri Pradhan highlighted opportunities for collaboration between Singapore's National Institute of Education and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in curriculum development, pedagogy, and teacher capacity-building.

In addition to these discussions, Shri Pradhan met with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Vivian Balakrishnan, to further deepen the India-Singapore Knowledge Partnership. Both leaders stressed the importance of collaboration in education to achieve shared objectives.

Shri Pradhan also visited the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he met with President Prof. Tan Eng Chye. They explored opportunities to leverage their respective strengths to build knowledge bridges and strengthen academic collaborations. The discussions emphasized areas such as healthcare, advanced materials, digitalization, and sustainability, which align with the key focus areas of NEP 2020 aimed at enhancing access to quality higher education for India’s youth.

On his first day in Singapore, Shri Pradhan engaged with members of the Indian diaspora, highlighting the role of NEP 2020 in upskilling the youth of India and the vast scope of education in the country.

Shri Pradhan's visit to Singapore is part of a broader trip that will continue to Australia from October 20 to 26, 2024, aimed at fostering collaboration and synergy in critical areas of mutual interest in education. His engagements underscore the commitment to building strong educational ties and enhancing the quality of education for future generations in both nations. 4o mini