UKIBC Sector Expert Welcomes FTA between UK-India: John Mountford
By Trisha Nagpal
By John Mountford
The announcement of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed between the United Kingdom and India is a significant milestone in the deepening of economic and strategic ties between the two nations, impacting across key sectors including education. This spirit of strategic cooperation has been manifested in the joint endorsement by the two prime ministers of the India-UK Vision 2035 ‘reaffirming their shared commitment to unlocking the full potential of a revitalised partnership’. The agreement reinforces five key pillars of collaboration:
- growth
- technology and innovation
- defence and security
- climate and clean energy
- and education.
Under point 5 , the vision prioritises the nurturing of global talent, enhanced transnational education (TNE) collaboration, and partnerships in business, research, innovation, science and technology and knowledge. This very much aligns to the work that UKIBC has been doing in these areas through our connecting skills report our technology collaboration work and report and of course our TNE Pathway to success report.
The vision reiterates the importance of the implementation of the existing MoU on the mutual recognition of academic qualifications and enhancing of youth exchange opportunities through programmes such as the Study India Programme and Young Professionals Scheme (YPS). During UKIBC’s June HE Sector Advocacy Group meeting, the FCDO highlighted the current imbalance in uptake of the YPS between Indian and UK young professionals and the need for further promotion through UK networks. The aligning of student immigration policy remains crucial in realising the mobility opportunities outlined in the agreement.
Vision 2035 renews UK-India commitment to enhanced TNE collaboration, especially through the development of UK-India joint and dual degrees in priority programmes. We have also seen the ongoing launching of UK university branch campuses, described by PM Modi as a ‘new chapter in the education sector of both countries’.
Finally, the vision reinforces the importance of education partnerships in research and innovation. This includes the introduction of the UK-India Research and Innovation Corridor initiative, which embraces shared research to promote economic growth and commercial opportunities through the introduction of Industry 4.0 and technologies including AI, telecoms, biotech, critical minerals, advanced materials, cyber security, and space.
The shared commitment to India-UK Vision 2035 reinforces the exciting collaborative activities that are happing in the education sector. It provides a platform for UK and Indian HEIs to support their learners mobility opportunities, develop TNE arrangements, and conduct joint research. Enshrining the sector’s key role in the mutual realisation of the opportunities arising from CETA and our long-term shared posterity.
