Government may bar universities from pacts with neighbours

The Education Ministry, after consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, is considering making it mandatory for Indian universities to obtain prior permission from the government before signing any memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with educational institutions of countries that share land borders with India, writes Shishir Gupta for the Hindustan Times.

The proposal was mooted by the education ministry after a 9 August review of China-funded Confucius centres attached to universities and also MoUs signed between Indian and Chinese universities. The Confucius programme is financed by the Office of Chinese Language Council International which has been linked to China’s United Front Work Department, now headed by President Xi Jinping. Ostensibly meant to teach Chinese language and culture, the Confucius programme has been accused of promoting China’s viewpoint and acting as a vehicle for propaganda. Several countries including Australia and the United States have previously had issues with the institutes.

While the ministry of external affairs was initially hesitant in mandating approvals for such partnerships with institutions from friendly countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal that share land borders with India, the Hindustan Times learns that South Block now has no objections to the education ministry’s plan. “We have discussed the matter with the education ministry. They will now have to implement this through an order,” said a senior South Block official who asked not to be named.
Full report on the Hindustan Times site