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Indo - French Cooperation
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Education , Research and Training
Bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, research and training is institutionalised through the Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme (IFCEP) signed in 1966, which is reviewed and suitably modified periodically (2007-2010). This framework has been further expanded through a separate MOU (2007) on Indo-French Educational Exchange Programme (IFEEP). Apart from expanding collaborative cooperation in fields of academics/research/exchange of faculties/joint publications/twinning of educational institutions, this MOU has also set up a JWG between the Ministry of HRD (India) & Ministry of Foreign & European Affairs (France). This is in addition to the more than 150 MOUs / Exchange Programmes signed between private Indian and French educational institutions in several disciplines.
2. The JWG of IFEEP agreed (Paris, March 2009) to intensify ties between the academia, intellectuals and youth by (i) strengthening the “Confederation of Indo - French Universities” (CIFU) (www.ujf-grenoble.fr/servlet) , signed between the AIU and its French counterpart in January 2008 (ii) facilitate the process for addressing the problem of non-mutual recognition of degrees (iii) bolstering social sciences research [under Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (www.msh-paris.fr) - UGC (www.ugc.ac.in) / ICSSR (www.icssr.org) framework], the Indo-French Cyber University and student / scholar / researcher mobility through flexible visa regime and (vi) substantively involving French collaboration in setting up of a new IIT in Rajasthan. The CIFU has since decided (Grenoble; May, 2009) to develop a common grid of reference of credits between collaborating Universities, offer more scholarships for Indian students at the Masters level (2009-10) and set up a regular Secretariat. The Joint Advisory Council meeting (New Delhi, January 2009) of MSH (Maison de Science de l’Homme) - UGC/ICCSR/ICPR/ICHR has reviewed ongoing collaboration in social sciences research and finalized joint research projects, seminars, workshops and exchange of specialists for 2009-2010.
3. Scholarships for periods ranging from one to fourteen months are being offered every year by the French government to 40 Indian students for studying French language, hotel management, public administration, fine arts, mass communication etc. The ICCR (www.iccrindia.org) has instituted an ‘Indian Chair of Sanskrit’ at the Sorbonne University, Paris (www.sorbonne.fr) and another ‘Chair in Indian Economics’ at Sciences Po, Paris (asia-centre.sciences-po.fr/academics/indian_chair.html). They are teaching undergraduate as well as post-graduate courses and contributing to international seminars and conferences being organised by leading French Think Tanks and Research Centres.
4. “Higher Education in France” fairs (1998 – 2007) and the “EU Higher Education Fair” (2008) have been periodically organized in India. The number and scope of MOUs being signed between prestigious Indian and French universities and private institutions of excellence is increasing. To enhance people-to-people contacts, France is also imparting advanced training (Grenoble/Paris, June 2009) to Indian sportsmen for improving competitive skills for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games being hosted by India. Several other events (Science Renaissance, Colloquium on Renewable / Sustainable development, launching of Indo-French Alumni Network, etc) highlighting Indo-French ties in education, research and S&T are being planned for 2010, as part of the ‘Bonjour India’ festival.
5. The cooperation (2005-2011) between the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA – www.iipa.ernet.in) and Ecole National d’Administration (ENA – www.ena.fr) entails multi-faceted exchanges for establishing a ‘Centre for Good Governance’ at IIPA, bilateral training programmes to improve citizen friendly administration / e-governance / disaster management / decentralized decision-making and increasing training courses for Indian administrators at ENA. French counterparts undertake study tours of administrative training institutions in India.
6. The ‘Indo – French Joint Statements’ issued at New Delhi (January 25, 2008) and at Paris (September 30, 2008) reiterate the mutual commitment to further intensify bilateral relations in the fields of education, research and training (www.meaindia.nic.in).
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