Dharmendra Pradhan and Johns Hopkins University discuss plans for India campus

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday engaged in talks with Johns Hopkins University regarding possible academic and research partnerships, including the creation of an offshore campus in India.

In Short

• Dharmendra Pradhan meets Johns Hopkins University delegation to discuss collaborations
• JHU explores setting up an offshore campus in India with Indian HEIs
• Discussions focus on joint degrees, student/faculty mobility, and research ties

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held discussions with a high-level delegation from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) on Sunday, exploring the possibility of establishing an offshore campus of the esteemed US university in India.

The 12-member delegation was led by JHU President Ronald J. Daniels, and included representatives from the Gupta Klinsky India Institute (GKII), a division within JHU aimed at fostering collaboration between the university and Indian partners in research, education, policy, and practice.

Notable Indian-origin faculty members from Johns Hopkins University, including Mathuram Santosham, Professor of Paediatrics and International Health, and Chirag Parikh, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Nephrology, also took part in the discussions.

The meeting focused on enhancing academic and research partnerships between JHU, a renowned private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, and leading Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Pradhan highlighted the potential for collaborative efforts to drive innovation and entrepreneurship among students in both countries, according to a statement from the Ministry of Education.

The meeting was also attended by Higher Education Secretary K Sanjay Murthy, along with senior officials from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of External Affairs.

The statement further noted that Pradhan emphasized the transformative opportunities created by the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which has opened doors for academic partnerships and progress in India's education sector.

Pradhan expressed appreciation for Johns Hopkins University's commitment to establishing strong partnerships with Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), contributing to the global exchange of knowledge. He specifically acknowledged the potential for collaboration in areas such as dual and joint degree programmes, two-way mobility of students and faculty, and research initiatives in emerging fields like data science, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies.

PRADHAN HIGHLIGHTS INNOVATION AND OFFSHORE JHU CAMPUS TALKS

He further emphasised the opportunity for these collaborations to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship among students in both countries. The delegation also engaged in discussions about the possibility of setting up an offshore JHU campus in India, as shared by the ministry.

The ministry highlighted that Daniels' visit and the delegation's discussions underscore the growing importance of India-US educational cooperation. As part of their multi-city tour of India, the delegation will visit various Indian university campuses and engage with key government officials and academic leaders.

(With inputs from ANI)