India, Singapore strengthen ties related to education and research   

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan recently visited Singapore and met with key officials to strengthen India-Singapore educational ties. The visit focused on enhancing collaboration in school education, vocational training, and research. Pradhan met with Singapore’s Prime Minister, H.E. Lawrence Wong, where they discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in education. The conversation revolved around the key pillars of ‘Talent, Resource, and Market,’ with a focus on advancing areas such as deep tech, startups, and innovation.

Pradhan’s trip aimed to foster greater participation in education and skill development between the two nations. He also met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Gan Kim Yong, and discussed future cooperation in skills-based education to develop competencies among younger generations.

A significant discussion took place between Pradhan and his Singaporean counterpart, Minister for Education, Mr. Chan Chun Sing. The two ministers explored avenues for internships that would allow Indian students to gain hands-on experience in Singaporean industries. Additionally, they discussed joint research collaboration in emerging fields like deep tech, medicine, and advanced materials.

Another key point of discussion was fostering academic cooperation and cultural exchange by twinning schools and universities from both countries. Pradhan highlighted opportunities for collaboration between Singapore’s National Institute of Education and India’s NCERT in curriculum development and teacher training.

During his visit, Pradhan toured the Hwa Chong Institution to observe its innovative approaches, including the integration of AI in education. He noted similarities between Singapore’s educational practices and India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasising shared goals of nurturing student talent and creativity.