By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/DUBAI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is on a two-day visit to the UAE with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of education between India and the UAE, visited the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus and participated in other programs.
Union Minister Shri Pradhan was accorded a grand welcome upon his arrival at the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi. A presentation was made in the presence of the Union Minister on the current status and future plans of the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus. He inaugurated the Atal Incubation Centre, the first of its kind abroad, on the campus premises, and launched the PhD and B.Tech programmes. On this occasion, Shri Pradhan interacted with the students and faculty of the campus. Appreciating the development work of the campus, he said that this campus established in Abu Dhabi reflects the heritage of IIT Delhi. It has emerged as a lighthouse of knowledge and research, education partnership between India and the UAE. It is a matter of great pleasure to visit this institution.
Shri Pradhan discussed educational priorities with Sara Musallam, Chairperson, Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), Abu Dhabi. He thanked her for the support extended to schools following Indian curriculum in the UAE, including the establishment of IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi. During the meeting, the Union Education Minister expressed his views on the success of Atal Tinkering Labs set up in Indian schools. He also spoke about the implementation of Atal Innovation Labs in Indian schools in the UAE.
Discussions were held on expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of education and opening more Indian curriculum-based schools in the UAE to cater to the educational needs of the Indian diaspora. The meeting focused on promoting student exchange right from the school level. Shri Pradhan appreciated the work of the EDEC Chairman in strengthening quality educational cooperation between India and the UAE and establishing education as the strongest pillar of our bilateral relations.
During his visit, Shri Pradhan is scheduled to interact with key UAE leaders, ministers, policymakers, academics, and representatives of Indian and UAE institutions with a view to furthering partnerships in education, innovation, and knowledge exchange.
