Press Information Bureau · 11 Aug 2026
India hosts BRICS Network University Conference and the International Governing Board Meeting, strengthening BRICS Higher Education Cooperation
As part of India’s BRICS Presidency 2026, the Ministry of Education convened the BRICS Network University International Governing Board meeting on 21 July, following a conference on Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems on 20 July. Representatives from BRICS countries discussed expanding academic cooperation, collaborative research, institutional partnerships and knowledge exchange. The Board also reviewed the BRICS Network University Action Plan 2025–2028, considered measures to strengthen academic mobility, and adopted the International Governing Board Declaration.
Why it matters
The BRICS Network University provides Indian higher-education institutions with a structured platform for deeper international academic engagement beyond conventional bilateral partnerships. Stronger mechanisms for student and faculty mobility, joint research, institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange can expand the international exposure of Indian universities while creating opportunities for multidisciplinary research across BRICS countries.
The proposed inclusion of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems as a new International Thematic Group is particularly significant. It could create an organised international research framework for documenting, preserving and responsibly disseminating traditional knowledge, while addressing community ownership, ethical governance and equitable benefit-sharing. The discussions also recognised the role of emerging technologies, including AI, in this work.
For Indian institutions, participation in such networks can strengthen internationalisation strategies, research partnerships and academic visibility while providing faculty and students with wider opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
Source: Press Information Bureau (opens in a new tab)
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