A STORY between Flanders and India

CHAPTER 1 BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER 2 CSLC

VLIR UOS SOUTH INITIATIVE SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS AT KUVEMPU UNIVERSITY

VLIR UOS OWN INITIATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF A CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF LOCAL CULTURES AT KUVEMPU UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER 3: ASHA

CHAPTER 4: INDIA PLATFORM

Europe and India 1981: India as a recipient of EU aid 2008: India and Europe as strategic partners What does this mean for higher education and research? Inception of the India Platform: A platform for collaboration between Europe and India across all sectors of society

The India Platform Vision A people-to-people relationship: “Connecting the peoples of India and Europe, in the framework of a coherent vision and a relationship of trust.”

Indian Challenges Very young population: more than 65% below 35 But Deficient education system Deficient health care system Increasingly unliveable cities

Indian Challenges Absence of research culture & teaching-research connection Shortage of higher education faculty: 1 million new faculty required for 30% GER Distortion of higher education landscape Shortage of school teachers: 1 million

European Challenges 25% decline in welfare level

European Challenges /3 population over 65 in most European countries (EC eurostat) Massive retirement of baby boomers Increasing costs of health care systems Increasing costs of pension systems

Complementarity

The India Platform Vision A social translation of globalization: “Globalization does not mean that we should simply outcompete each other; it can also allow us to help to build on each other’s strengths.”

The India Platform Vision A people-to-people relationship: cultural difference and past. Exchange and cooperation in all sectors of society. Complementarity of problems and solutions. Build a consortium in India of “growing institutions”: invest and grow along with them. Approach India together with a common vision and strategy.

IP: expansion in regions in India Karnataka Gujarat Maharashtra Delhi Hyderabad Kerala Tamil Nadu

Stakeholders, partners and members

Stakeholders Europe: Ghent University Hospital University of Antwerp University of Aveiro University of Groningen University of Pardubice NP-Bridging Preferred Partners Hasselt University Associate Members University College Ghent Futureproofed University of Twente Wageningen University and Research Centre

Stakeholders, partners and members Stakeholders India Gokula Education Foundation Alva’s Education Trust BMS College of Engineering B.N.M. Institute of Technology Institute of Finance and International Management Jyothy Group Amrita V. V. University Preferred Partners Valdel Engineers & Constructors Pvt Ltd Associate Members The Academy for Creative Teaching SDM Educational Society, Ujire Karnataka State Women’s University English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad Karnataka State Women’s University English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad

Facts and figures Activities in Europe and India 14 stakeholders 8 members & partners +120 volunteers contacts 339 Activities in Offices in Europe and India

Activities Research and training Facilitation and mediation Curricula development Organizing ‘ventures visits’ Conferences Network building Outreach Student and faculty exchanges HIGHER EDUCATION BUSINESS GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE

Svagata.eu

Samyoga: matchmaking event

IP Focus Groups Culture & management Health care Liveable cities School education Waste management

Some reflections Going to India as individual institutions: negligible impact; ‘branding’ fails; one of many (EHEF). A common face and common strategy are needed, minimally at the Flemish level; e.g. Vlaams India Platform. Together define mutual opportunities and interests: neither development aid nor ‘they know their own needs’. Know your partners!