Europe today has 4000 higher education institutions, from top-level research establishments to small, specialized colleges, hosting about one-fifth of the world's students (20 million) and 1.5 million academicians. It is recognized as the leading higher educational destination for international students, offering both cutting edge education, value for money and rich cultural experience. Every year, 1.5 million international students come to Europe, of which around 50,000 are Indians.

While talking to the students, Mr Magis said “Under Erasmus+ more than 5300 Indian students have received scholarships over the last several years. In the last 3 years alone, about 1,300 students have received full scholarships, 120 Indian universities have been involved in active exchange programmes, and around 100 in joint master programmes or capacity-building projects. There is a huge opportunity for the Indian students, researchers and universities which they should explore."

EU Day Programme:

The EU Day event comprised of presentations on EU – India Cooperation in Climate Change, Energy and Environment & Higher Education & Research opportunities in the EU.

A welcome address was given by the Dean of Engineering, Dr Sasangan Ramanathan followed by a presentation by Dr K.K. Sasi, Professor, Electrical and Electronics, School of Engineering, Coimbatore.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Magis emphasized the growing importance of EU India relations in the current world order.  He mentioned that the 13^th and 14th EU-India summits had widened and deepened strategic collaborations between the two sides on regional and global issues including security, climate change, research.

Ms Henriette Faergemann Bredsten, First Counsellor, Environment, Energy, Climate Change & Urbanisation, Delegation of the European Union to India, gave a presentation on EU-India Cooperation in Climate Change, Energy & Environment followed by a Question and Answer session. She elaborated on the EU India partnership in this field and referred to the EU – India Joint Statement on Clean Energy and Climate Change adopted at the recent EU India Sumit in New Delhi.  On this occasion the two sides had reaffirmed their commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, and agreed to co-operate further to enhance its implementation. In the Joint Statement, India and the EU had noted that addressing climate change and promoting secure, affordable and sustainable supplies of energy are key shared priorities and welcomed the progress on the Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, adopted at the 2016 EU-India Summit, and reiterated their commitment to its implementation and further development.

There was also a presentation on Scholarships & Funding Opportunities under the EU’s Higher Education Initiatives for Erasmus+ Programme - Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Scholarships by Mr Thibault Devanlay from the EU Delegation. Opportunities for researchers were covered in the session on the EU – funded programme, Horizon 2020 and Euraxess.

BACKGROUND: The EU and India are implementing a Strategic Partnership based on shared principles and the common values of democracy, freedom, and rule of law.  India and the EU are both dynamic democracies with a bilateral relationship going back 55 years. The EU India partnership has been shaped by a Joint Action Plan, agreed in 2005 and updated in 2008, and is being taken forward by the Agenda for Action 2020 agreed at the Summit held in Brussels in 2016. The latest Summit in October 2017 has given depth and direction to this process through a wide ranging joint statement which covers deepening trade cooperation, enhancing investment flows in both directions, and broadening dialogue and engagement on global and regional issues, including climate change and migration.  Joint statements on combatting terrorism; clean energy and climate change, and smart and sustainable urbanization, were adopted at the summit. 

The EU is India’s largest trading partner, accounting for 13.7% of India’s overall trade, ahead of China (11%) and the United States (9.6%).  The EU is the second largest investor in India (after Mauritius), with an investment stock valued at €51.2 billion in 2015, and is the primary destination for Indian foreign investment.

For further information: 

Poonam.kapila@eeas.europa.eu  9910822339