Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Artificial Intelligence, skill development, research partnerships and easier academic mobility topped the agenda as BRICS education ministers adopted a joint declaration at the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The declaration outlines a common roadmap for strengthening education cooperation among BRICS nations while preparing students for future jobs and emerging technologies. It also reinforces education as one of the key pillars of cooperation among the member countries.
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Chairing the meeting, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi said education systems must continuously evolve to meet the aspirations of future generations while remaining rooted in human values.
Referring to India’s BRICS Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” he said learners, teachers, researchers and young people should remain at the centre of education policymaking.
FIVE PRIORITIES, ONE SHARED GOAL
The declaration focuses on five key areas that member countries agreed to strengthen together.
The first is expanding access to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) through inclusive policies and age-appropriate digital learning tools.
The second priority is strengthening technical and vocational education through the BRICS TVET Cooperation Alliance. India also proposed an International Skill Gap Study, which interested BRICS countries can join voluntarily.
Another major focus is boosting research, innovation and start-up ecosystems. The member nations agreed to encourage joint research projects, support innovation-driven entrepreneurship and promote the safe, ethical and human-centred use of Artificial Intelligence in education.
MAKING STUDYING ACROSS BORDERS EASIER
The ministers also agreed to continue discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding for Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ). If implemented, it could make it easier for students and professionals to have their qualifications recognised across BRICS countries, encouraging greater academic mobility and collaboration.
The declaration further supports faculty exchanges, scholarship programmes with a special focus on STEM education, the BRICS Rectors’ Forum and exploratory work towards developing a BRICS University Global Ranking and Evaluation System.
INDIA PUSHES TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
India also proposed guiding principles for strengthening academic collaboration on traditional and indigenous knowledge systems. The declaration welcomed the initiative and suggested that the BRICS Network University explore including this area as a new international thematic group.
Delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Iran, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates attended the meeting.
The Education Ministry said the outcomes reflect a shared commitment to building education systems that are inclusive, resilient and future-ready, with greater cooperation expected ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
