Government of India's SPARC initiative

 This is to inform that the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education, Government of India, has launched a flagship programme -Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC). The scheme aims at improving the research ecosystem of India's Higher Educational Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between top ranked Indian Institutions and globally ranked best institutions, to jointly create knowledge that can address and offer solutions to problems of national and/ or international importance. New Zealand is one of the focus countries for India for this initiative. The E-Brochure for this initiative is attached. Further details of SPARC is available on the website: www.sparc.iitkgp.ac.in

SPARC_eBrochure

India and NZ signed an Education Cooperation Arrangement, a broad framework for bilateral cooperation, in 2005 which was renewed for five years in April 2010. India and NZ also have an education JWG ofsenior officials under the Arrangement to discuss educational cooperation. The JWG has so far met twice, in Wellington in January 2008 and in New Delhi in February 2010.  As part of the Prime Ministers’ Education Initiative, announced during PMJK’s visit in June’11, the two countries have set up an India-New Zealand Education Council. The Council, formed to ensure greater bilateral cooperation in the field of education, has a jointly funded annual budget of upto NZ$ one million.  The inaugural meeting of the Council, Co-Chaired by NZ Minister of Education Steven Joyce and Hon’ble HRD Minister Shri Kapil Sibal, was held in New Delhi in October 2012. Under the INZEC, a Working Group on Skill Development and Vocational Education Strand has been constituted for further deliberations.  The 
Working Group held its first meeting in Wellington in April/May 2013. The Second Meeting of the INZEC took place in Wellington on 9th July 2013.

New Zealand India Research Institute (NZIRI) was one of five MoUs signed between New Zealand and Indian institutions, covering areas such as vocational training, joint research training, student exchanges and ICT. Minister Joyce  along with the  our  Hon’ble  Minister of Civil Aviation,  Ajit Singh also  witnessed the signing of the India-New Zealand Aviation Arrangement by  the New Zealand High Commissioner in New Delhi  Jan Henderson and the Indian Secretary of Civil Aviation Shri K. N. Srivastava. The Agreement will help further collaboration and trade in the aviation sector between the two countries.