South Korea, India to expand university cooperation

President Lee Jae Myung (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference in New Delhi on Monday/ File: MSN

According to The Korea Herald, South Korea and India are moving forward with plans to expand academic collaboration through a new university partnership initiative, the South Korean Education Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The agreement will bring together 10 regional national universities from South Korea and 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), widely regarded as India’s top engineering institutions. The universities are expected to soon sign a memorandum of understanding outlining joint efforts in education and research.

According to ministry officials, both sides have already reached a consensus, and the formal exchange of signed documents is imminent. Yoo Hong-lim, president of Seoul National University, has signed on behalf of the Korean institutions, while a representative from the Indian side will sign for the IITs.

The partnership will focus on joint research projects, student exchange programs, and broader academic collaboration. Officials say the initiative is part of South Korea’s strategy to strengthen its regional universities by increasing global engagement and attracting international students, particularly from India.

Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin emphasized that the government will continue supporting efforts to build global academic networks and develop regional universities into key centers for innovation and growth. The agreement follows a broader Korea-India joint strategic vision announced during President Lee’s visit to New Delhi, where he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As part of this vision, both countries also agreed to launch the Korea-India Defense Innovation Acceleration Platform (KIND-X), aimed at fostering collaboration among startups, universities, investors, and defense industries.

In addition, the two nations plan to expand language education initiatives supporting Korean language studies in India and Hindi education in South Korea - through curriculum development, digital tools, and teacher training programs. Scholarship opportunities for students from both countries are also expected to increase under the new framework, further strengthening educational and cultural ties between South Korea and India.