New Delhi: India has invited French higher education institutions to explore setting up branch campuses in India, including at GIFT City in Gujarat, as New Delhi and Paris look to expand cooperation in higher education, research and academic mobility.
The proposal was discussed during a bilateral meeting between Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste in New Delhi on Monday.
According to the Ministry of Education, French higher education institutions were invited to explore establishing branch campuses at GIFT City as well as at locations where French companies are present and require technical human resources.
The move could add a new dimension to the India-France higher education partnership by linking the presence of foreign universities with academic programmes and talent requirements in emerging economic and industrial centres.
The two ministers also discussed strengthening institutional linkages, student, faculty and researcher mobility, and expanding opportunities for collaborative academic programmes and exchanges.
Research collaboration was another focus, with the two sides exploring greater cooperation in life sciences, social sciences and humanities, along with new avenues for joint academic and research initiatives.
The meeting also covered the ongoing revision of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) Agreement between India and France. The agreement is among the areas being taken forward as the two countries seek to facilitate greater academic mobility and recognition of qualifications.
The ministers discussed strengthening language learning and teacher education, sharing academic expertise and experiences in digital education, and using technology to expand access to quality learning.
Joshi highlighted the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in education, research and innovation.
The discussions come as India seeks to increase internationalisation of its higher education sector and expand institutional partnerships with foreign universities.
Baptiste is on a three-day visit to India from September 28 to 30. The two sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to cooperation in higher education, innovation, language education and digital learning.
