Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Explores Academic and Research Collaboration with Johns Hopkins University

New Delhi, 17th November 2024 – Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, today met with a high-level delegation led by Mr. Ronald J. Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Baltimore, USA. The delegation also included officials from the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII), a key initiative under JHU that aims to enhance collaboration between the university and Indian partners across research, education, policy, and practice.

The meeting, attended by Shri K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of Higher Education, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of External Affairs, focused on fostering academic and research partnerships between JHU and premier Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Shri Pradhan emphasized the transformative role of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which has created new opportunities for international academic collaborations, particularly in emerging fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, and futuristic technologies.

Shri Pradhan appreciated JHU’s commitment to building robust partnerships with Indian HEIs, especially in the areas of joint and dual degree programs, student and faculty mobility, and collaborative research. He highlighted the potential of these collaborations to spur innovation and entrepreneurship, benefiting both nations.

The delegation also discussed the possibility of establishing an offshore campus of Johns Hopkins University in India, which would further strengthen the ties between India and the US in the education and research sectors. This meeting comes as part of JHU’s multi-city tour of India, aimed at engaging with academic leaders, government officials, and embassy representatives to expand the university’s operations in the country.

Notable members of the delegation included distinguished academicians such as Fritz W. Schroeder, Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations; Alexander Triantis, Dean of the Carey Business School; Judd Walson, Chair of the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School; and Sridevi Sarma, Vice Dean of Graduate Education at the Whiting School of Engineering. The delegation also featured Indian-origin faculty from JHU, including Mathuram Santosham, Professor of Paediatrics and International Health, and Chirag Parikh, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Nephrology.

The visit underlines the growing significance of India-US educational cooperation, with a particular focus on expanding international academic exchange and research collaboration.