Bhubaneswar: Union education minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Indonesia, Iran and South Africa after arriving in Bhubaneswar for the 13th Brics Education Ministers’ Meeting, with discussions focusing on expanding cooperation in higher education, research, innovation, digital learning and academic exchanges.The meetings were held on the sidelines of the Brics education conclave, which has brought together ministers and senior officials from member countries to deliberate on strengthening collaboration in the education sector.Joshi met Brian Yuliarto, Indonesia’s minister of higher education, science and technology, when the two discussed ways to deepen India-Indonesia cooperation in higher education, research, innovation and academic exchanges. They welcomed the signing of MoU between IIT Madras Global Research Foundation and Indonesia’s ministry of higher education, science and technology to strengthen collaboration in research, innovation and talent development.In another bilateral engagement, Joshi met Masood Shams-Bakhsh, Iran’s acting minister of science, research and technology, during which discussions centred on strengthening institutional linkages, promoting academic and research collaboration, expanding opportunities for students and scholars in the two countries.“Our enduring civilisational relationship offers a unique opportunity to build a modern partnership in education, research, technology and innovation,” Joshi said in a post on X after the meeting.Later in the day, the Union minister met Siviwe Gwarube, South Africa’s minister of basic education, when the leaders explored greater academic exchanges and sharing India’s flagship education initiatives such as Nipun Bharat, Parakh, Swayam and Samarth, besides accelerating education agreements currently under negotiation between the two countries.The bilateral meetings precede the ministerial session of the 13th Brics Education Ministers’ Meeting on Friday, where member nations are expected to deliberate on strengthening collaboration in school, higher, technical and vocational education, research, innovation and digital learning.Meanwhile, senior education officials from Brics member countries held extensive deliberations on the proposed education ministers’ declaration.
