India, Egypt to collaborate on premier higher educational institutes

India, Egypt to collaborate on premier higher educational institutes

Cairo: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that he will talk to the Union Minister for Education, Skill and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on collaborating with Egypt on premier higher educational institutes, like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

In an interaction with the Indian community in Cairo, he said, "There was a particular interest in Egypt about getting one of our IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) to set up a collaborative enterprise here. I will discuss this with our Education Minister in India." Notably, premier higher educational institutions in the country are looking to expand their campuses abroad. A government-constituted committee has recommended and pitched for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to take the lead on this front.

Tasked to prepare a framework for Indian universities to set up campuses abroad, the 16-member committee -- headed by the chairman of the standing committee of IIT council, K Radhakrishnan -- was constituted by the Union education ministry after IIT-Delhi submitted a proposal last year for opening centres in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Jaishankar further stated that the relationship between India and Egypt is good. "The possibilities are greater, there is enthusiasm in India to explore it. Tomorrow I will meet the