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
2060

1/3 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

Delhi

Gujarat

Maharashtra

Hyderabad
Karnataka

Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Stakeholders, partners and members
 Stakeholders, partners and members

Stakeholders Europe: Preferred Partners

Hasselt University
Ghent University Hospital

University of Antwerp
Associate Members
University of Aveiro
University College Ghent
University of Groningen Futureproofed

University of Pardubice University of Twente

Wageningen University and
NP-Bridging Research Centre
 Stakeholders, partners and members

Stakeholders India Karnataka State Women’s University

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

14 8
stakeholders members
& partners
+120
volunteers
339
Activities
+4700 in 2013-14
contacts Offices in
Europe and
India
 Activities

• Research and training

• Facilitation and mediation
HIGHER EDUCATION
• Curricula development
• Organizing ‘ventures visits’ BUSINESS

• Conferences GOVERNMENT
• Network building
HEALTH CARE
• Outreach
• Student and faculty exchanges
Svagata.eu
% female applications

Bachelor
Post-Doc
% selected females
13
16

Staff 20 34 PhD

33

Master
Samyoga: matchmaking event
 IP Focus Groups

Health care School education Waste management

Culture & management Liveable cities

 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!