CIPRI, CIF participate in Higher Education Forum

The main objective of this participation was to improve the educational research collaboration between India and Canada.

Shared traditions of democracy, pluralism, strong interpersonal connections and longstanding interpersonal ties were the foundation on which long-standing bilateral relationships between Canada and India were built.

A number of sessions were held in this meeting, attended by Nivedita Das Kundu, CIPRI Director along with the delegates from CIF.

The meetings in New Delhi started with High Commission of Canada.

The main focus of this meeting was on the critical understanding of this year’s federal elections to be held both in Canada and in India.

The session with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), a non-government, non-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, was very constructive.

Discussions by the participants at CII were mainly focused on possible cooperation in education sector, organizing joint workshops, and conducting joint projects etc.

Nivedita, along with Seneca Collage faculty and CIF officials, participated in this meeting as speaker in a Seminar on “Education and Skills Development” held at PHD Chamber in New Delhi.

The main focus of the meeting was on the technological innovation impact that has transformed education from its pure theoretical underpinnings to an application-based acquisition of knowledge and skills.

The roundtable discussion with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), a New Delhi based autonomous policy research institute, had good interaction, with leading policy makers from Indian government and private sectors, on the topic of strengthening policy coherence on international economic issues and on the development partnership canvas.

The international universities conclave, organized by Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) in Gandhinagar, also addressed many significant points of improving higher education for developing global connectivity.

Nivedita also participated as a panelist in the session on ‘Opportunities for cooperation between Indian and Foreign Universities’.

The delegation from CIPRI (YCAR), CIF and Seneca College also participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar and had discussion with Mayor of Ahmedabad, Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The aim of this visit was to identify possibilities and emerging opportunities between Canadian and Indian education sectors and to bring together the ideas to identify partnership possibilities.

Other issues of collaboration around policy research, resource building and knowledge sharing were also discussed.

The deliberations highlighted the ways of overcoming challenges effectively, seize opportunities for their development, informed by best-practices in collaborative methods.

India and Canada do not compete against each other, rather they complement each other. However, the need of the hour is to re-inject more energy and commitment into the relationship.

The current level of interaction is far below the potential. It is expected that these interactions will facilitate tapping the synergies in developing ties between the two commonwealth nations and try to cover various dimensions in sharing views and perspectives.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)