Dharmendra Pradhan Meets UAE Education Minister H.E. Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi In Abu Dhabi

The Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, met with the UAE Minister of Education, H.E. Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi, in Abu Dhabi today. The Ministers signed an MoU to strengthen extant educational cooperation facilitating student and faculty mobility and various other initiatives. The Minister also visited the School for Disruptive Learning at 42 Abu Dhabi. The minister is in UAE for three days. The visit will facilitate collaboration, participation, and synergy in crucial areas of shared interest in the domains of education and skills.

During his meeting with his UAE counterpart, Shri Pradhan stated that, given that the UAE is a Global Economic hotspot and India is a Global Talent hotspot, both countries should collaborate to construct a knowledge bridge in order to strengthen our civilizational ties.

The Ministers reviewed the bilateral engagements in education and skill development, focusing on the progress made on issues discussed during our meeting on the margins of the 4th EdWG as part of the G20 India. They were pleased with the progress made with regard to the mutual validation of academic and skill qualifications, as well as the recognition of Indian institutes in the UAE, and emphasized the need for continued work in this area. The Ministers pledged to strengthen institutional mechanisms and expedite procedures to facilitate the mobility of students and workers.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan thanked H.E. Dr. Ahmed Belhoul for his support of Indian curriculum-based institutions in the UAE. Also, methods for facilitating student exchange programs between India and the UAE were discussed.

During the meeting, the Ministers inked an important MOU. The MOU aims to strengthen the existing cooperation in the field of educational institutions between the two countries by facilitating student and faculty mobility, joint research programmes, course development, and the organisation and participation in conferences, lectures, symposia, courses, and scientific and educational exhibitions in areas of mutual interest.

It will also facilitate in exchange of information in the following areas: Regulations, legal structures and best practices in general and higher education in both countries.

Framework and policies in general and higher education, including national qualifications frameworks, to facilitate the mutual recognition of qualifications between the two nations.

Counseling and well-being frameworks and policies pertaining to the development of gifted and talented individuals’ abilities, as well as counselling.

Facilitate academic collaboration between Higher Education Institutions in both countries for the provision of Twinning, Joint Degree, and Dual Degree Programmes.

This MOU contemplates cooperation in the area of Capacity Development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) teaching personnel.

MoU will facilitate creation of a Joint Working Group is convened by a representative of the Ministry of Education from India and UAE. The JWG will review the implementation of this memorandum at least twice per year.

Shri Pradhan also visited 42 Abu Dhabi, a coding school with a strong emphasis on fostering innovation, creativity, and peer-to-peer learning via project-based and gamified curriculum. Shri Pradhan stated that 42 Abu Dhabi’s initiative to remove barriers to education in order to realize the vision of a tech-enabled future is commendable. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it allows students to study and earn according to their own schedules. Flexibility and learning while earning are also highlighted as critical NEP 2020 recommendations. Incorporating such progressive pathways is a way forward to empower India’s talented youth and workforce, he added.

The interaction between Shri Pradhan and students and faculty at Abu Dhabi Indian School (ADIS) was enlightening. Shri Pradhan stated that ADIS, one of the largest institutions in Abu Dhabi serving the Indian community, instills the culture, values, and ethos of both India and the UAE in its Indian students. He added that these students are prospective global citizens and representatives of India and its civilisational ethos.

The Minister interacted with members of the Odia Community later in the evening. The Indian diaspora in the UAE welcomed him with open arms.