On December 9, Sajid Javid MP, UK’s secretary of state for business, innovation and skills and Jo Johnson, UK’s minister of state for universities and science announced the launch of ‘2016 UK-India Year of Education Research and Innovation’ campaign in New Delhi.
The year-long campaign will highlight the strength and mutual benefits of the bilateral relationship between India and UK across a range of digital technology enabled education and training initiatives. As part of this initiative, both the countries will drive further UK- India partnerships and encourage organisations and institutions to collaborate at national, regional and state level to create a new 21st century framework as partners in education, research and innovation, in the global context. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) will be the lead government departments and key owners of the campaign. A campaign board will be created to advise and oversee the campaign, which will be supported by the British Council.
Speaking at the launch event, Javid MP said, “I am delighted to announce the launch of ‘2016 UK-India Year of Education Research and Innovation’ campaign. UK is committed to supporting prime minister Modi achieve the goal of preparing young Indians for the 21st century. Over the last 10 years, the UK-India relationship in Education Science and Technology has grown substantially with the introduction of bilateral programmes such as UKIERI, Newton-Bhabha Fund. New initiatives supporting mobility, such as Generation UK-India and GIAN have been created, and RUCK and UK University representative offices have been established in India. The new initiatives will further support research, catalyse innovation and forge lasting intellectual partnerships between the UK and India.”
The UK-India Year of Education, Research and Innovation was developed at the UK-India working group in July 2015 and announced during the visit of prime minister Narendra Modi to London in November 2015. The aim of this campaign is to celebrate the achievements between the two countries till date; take stock and to plan the transformational future of this important partnership for the next 10 years.
Key initiatives planned include:
Schools: A new Continuing Professional Development package for English teachers in India, including new MOOC courses jointly developed with the UK’s Institute of Education (UCL) for India’s 3 million pre-service and newly qualified teachers, and teacher educators in India.
Community colleges and polytechnics: A new workforce development programme will be delivered in partnership with community colleges/polytechnics and UK providers; for 25,000 students in 20 institutions in 2016, using a blending learning model, to maximise the use of technology in teaching to increase scale and quality. The project would have two strands: A master trainer programme for existing and new faculty on how to leverage technology in delivering skills. Secondly, short blended learning introductory courses that can be delivered to students in remote locations to prepare them for employment (21st century skills like communication) and further learning (introductory courses to service sector and manufacturing courses).
Universities: Create a professional network of 10,000 new generation faculty and support them to improve practice and promote research in digital teaching and learning. This is delivered via 50 Academic Staff Colleges of selected Indian universities. A new cohort of faculty to embrace technology in Teaching-Learning processes to enhance quality of education delivery through innovative curriculum, hands-on training in design and delivery of online learning modules and online assessment tools.
In addition, for those outside formal education:
English and Digital for Girls’ Education (EDGE): A digital literacy programme for adolescent girls outside formal education system and from marginalised communities. Delivered via self-access learning and managed by trained ‘peer leaders’. The EDGE project has four objectives: a) The development of skills and knowledge in English language and digital; b) awareness of choices and rights; c) self-confidence and belief in ability to learn; and c) enhanced status in society. In the pilot year, working with the Naandi Foundation in Hyderabad, Telangana and Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh the project will reach up to fifty centres for girls from marginalised and disadvantaged communities and it is planned that the project will reach 100,000 young girls across nine states in India.
The campaign will also include a package of jointly funded bilateral activity such as UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKEIRI), Newton (Bhahba Fund Bilateral programme for science and innovation collaboration) and Vivekanand (Newton Fund Bilateral programme for social sciences and humanities) among others.