Education link-up between Scotland and India announced

New education links between Scotland and India were announced by First Minister Alex Salmond today.

A series of agreements have been signed between universities in both countries as part of a drive to share knowledge and expertise.

More than 4,000 Indian students already study at Scottish colleges and universities.

The First Minister, who is in India for the close of the Commonwealth Games, and Indian human resource development minister Kapil Sibal, welcomed the moves to strengthen links.

Mr Salmond said: "I warmly welcome these new commitments to share knowledge, expertise and skills with India which build on the MOU (memoranda of understanding) signed in 2009.

"We have global strengths in key industries such as life sciences,

energy, financial and business services, the digital gaming industry and information technology and we are keen to learn from the dynamic growth and specialism in Indian universities.

"Scottish Development International is working to increase this collaboration in education between Scotland and India. India is one of our key countries of interest for educational collaboration."

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) were today agreed between University of Abertay Dundee and the Indian Institute of Information Technology in Allahabad, as well as between the University of Edinburgh and the University of Delhi. Edinburgh University is also opening up a new office in Mumbai.

A partnership agreement has also been reached between Glasgow Caledonian University and Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research in New Delhi to deliver programmes which could see thousands of people in India spared unnecessary amputation through diabetes.

An MOU was also announced today between the Scottish Qualifications Authority and India's National Accreditation Board for Education and Training to develop skills and training.

Mr Sibal said: "The agreement with Scotland advances our sweeping reform agenda for higher education.

"We intend to empower our students by providing access to the finest university education the world has on offer.

"And in Scotland, with its higher learning tradition that goes back to the Renaissance, we have found a worthy partner."