New Delhi: The academic community in both China and India should collaborate for mutual benefit while these two countries are at the core of modernisation and upgradation of standards and content in institutions of higher learning, said the President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee while addressing the Conclusion of the Roundtable at Peking University, China.
Mr Mukherjee highlighted the past glory and academic relationship between India and China. As far back as the 6th Century, seats of higher learning like Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri had drawn scholars and cultivated contacts and academic exchanges with famed institutions of other countries in the region and beyond. Takshashila was, in a sense, the most ‘connected’ of the Indian universities, a meeting ground of four civilizations – Indian, Persian, Greek and Chinese. Many renowned people came to Takshashila – Panini, Alexander, Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya, Charaka, and Chinese Buddhist monks Faxian and Xuanzang.
The internationalization of higher education through collaborations, faculty and student exchanges, joint research and seminars has always been an integral part of the development of higher education system in India, he added. India has initiated a unique programme GIAN – Global Initiative for Academic Networks. Under this programme, premier higher educational institutes are engaging faculties from abroad for a short term teaching assignments.
The President lauded the efforts of central institutes of higher learning from India as they are signing Memorandums of Understanding for co-operation with partner institutions of China. He said that these understandings will create a collaborative platform for academic cooperation in the areas of research and education, joint seminars and exchange of faculty and students.
