New Delhi: Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and his French counterpart, Philippe Baptiste, have reportedly discussed a proposal to set up an IIT campus in Nice, France.
The Education Ministry has not yet specified which IIT could establish the proposed campus in Nice. Details regarding its timeline, academic programmes, funding and regulatory approvals are also yet to be announced.
The proposal comes as Indian Institutes of Technology expand their international presence. IIT Madras operates an overseas campus in Zanzibar, while IIT Delhi has established a campus in Abu Dhabi.
The proposal for an IIT in France was discussed during a meeting between the two ministers in New Delhi on Monday.
According to ministry officials, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, research and innovation, including student and faculty mobility, institutional partnerships and joint research.
‘Welcome to India’
During the meeting, India also invited French higher education institutions to explore establishing branch campuses in the country. GIFT City in Gujarat was identified as one possible location, along with areas where French companies operate and require skilled technical manpower.
The development comes amid India’s efforts to expand the presence of foreign universities in the country. In August, the government said the University Grants Commission (UGC) had issued 16 Letters of Intent to foreign higher education institutions from countries including Australia, Italy, UK and USA.
The University of Southampton and University of New South Wales have already established campuses in Gurugram and Bengaluru, respectively.
International Education Hub
GIFT City has also emerged as a location for international higher education institutions, operating under a separate regulatory framework linked to the International Financial Services Centre.
The potential entry of French institutions could further expand the international higher education ecosystem being developed at GIFT City.
Boosting Ties
The India-France talks further covered the revision of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) Agreement between the two countries.
Both sides discussed strengthening student, faculty and researcher mobility, expanding joint academic programmes and exchanges, and increasing collaboration in areas including life sciences, social sciences and humanities.