UK ministers to undertake multi-city visit of India to promote education and skills

New Delhi Two British ministers Sajid Javid Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills and Jo Johnson Minister of State for Universities and Science will visit India from December 9 to 11According to a British High Commission release they will visit New Delhi Hyderabad Bengaluru and Mumbai to meet Indian students and faculty and ministers in the central and state Governments to build on the success of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the UK last month specifically in the fields of higher education skills and research cooperationThe release further states that Mr Modis historic visit to the UK saw the two countries set high ambitions for their bilateral partnershipBuilding on Prime Minister Modis statement that the UK remains a preferred destination for Indian students the Secretary of State and Minister will showcase the UKs higher education research science innovation and technology capabilities that can help Indias growth story and the Indian Governments Skill India agendaSajid Javid said Prime Minister Modis visit to the UK electrified the UKIndia relationship setting new more ambitious goals for our shared future This includes the UK helping India meet its evergrowing need for skills education and research for which the UK is perfectly placedA British education is a qualitymark and a passport to global success with four of the worlds topten universities in the UK Many Indian Prime Ministers scientists economists and business leaders who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India benefited from studying in the UK I want to see Indias future leaders in all fields take advantage of what the UK has to offer which is why Im coming to India so soon after Mr Modis visit Both Ministers will begin the visit in New Delhi where Javid will launch the Midlands Engine initiative in India marked by an alumni event in partnership the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry FICCI The event will promote the UKs Midlands region as a hub for innovation and manufacturing highlighting how British and Indian technology and brainpower can work together with companies like Jaguar Land Rover and alumni from top British universities from the region to fuel growth in both countriesBritish Indian businesses leader and Chancellor of Birmingham University Lord Karan Billimoria as well as Vice Chancellors from Universities of Birmingham Leicester and Warwick will participate in the discussionsMr Javid and the Indian Minister for Human Resources Ms Smriti Irani will announce the 2016 UKIndia year of Education Research and Innovation which was agreed to during PM Modis visit to the UK last monthHe will also call on Indian Finance Mr Arun Jaitley Minister for Human Resource Development Ms Smriti Irani and Minister for Commerce Ms Nirmala SithramanIn New Delhi Mr Johnson together with the Indian Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan will launch the UKs partnership of the 2016 Technology Summit and KnowledgExpoBritish and Indian business leaders and senior academics including Dame Nancy Rothwell the Vice Chancellor of Manchester University and Professor Colin Riordan Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University will participate in discussions Mr Johnson will announce an extension of the UKs Newton Fund Fund until 2021 as well as new research partnerships under the NewtonBhabha Fund and celebrate the joint investment in UKIndia research which has grown from less than a million pounds in 2008 to over 200 million pounds todayBoth ministers will meet students at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi along with notable IIT alumni who have benefited from a higher education in the UK The ministers will promote the range of programmes that IIT Delhi has been involved in with the UK as a part of UK India Education and Research Initiative UKIERIIn Hyderabad Javid will talk to students at the Hyderabad Public School HPS about higher education opportunities in the UK The UK has been a preferred higher education destination for students from Hyderabad and one of the schools esteemed alumni is Lord Karan Bilimoria Javid will also meet students and faculty at the Indian School of Business ISB and visit the newlyestablished THuB at IIIT Indias largest incubator for startups where he will discuss the UKs leadership in the field of innovation and chalk out areas of collaboration between young innovators from both countries Whilst at THub Javid will meet the Telengana IT Minister Mr KTaraka Rama RaoOn the same day Mr Johnson travels to Bengaluru He will visit Stonehill International School to meet students and staff and will have lunch with the Karnataka State Education MinisterMr Johnson will attend a research and innovation showcase event by Research Councils UK RCUK at the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and announce a series of new joint research programmes that will boost the longestablished cooperation between the UK and India in science and researchThe minister will announce a new partnership between UKs Open University and Manipal education group that will support the development of innovative programmes focused on equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace The minister will also announce a new partnership between British Council Generation UKIndia programme Christ University and Jain University for hosting UK students at their campus in BangaloreJohnson said Education research and development science and innovation are pillars upon which the future UKIndia partnership will rest Our Prime Minister has called team UK and team India a winning combination and has offered to support Prime Minister Modi achieve his goal of preparing millions of young Indians for the 21st CenturyBoth ministers will spend their final day in India in Mumbai addressing and interacting with students from the Jamnabai Narsi School and the Cathedral SchoolThe ministers will be accompanied by Vice Chancellors and senior faculty from leading British universities and further education institutions who will meet students and faculties across India to explore education and research opportunities