**Executive Summary**
The Union Education Minister addressed the closing ceremony of the India-Spain Conference on Higher Education in New Delhi on February 20, 2026. The conference, held from February 19-20, 2026, focused on strengthening bilateral academic and research cooperation. The goal of the conference is to move from dialogue to delivery, with discussions initiated on joint research, student/teacher mobility, and support for start-ups, with a similar meeting potentially being held in Spain later in 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Conference Overview:**
* The two-day India-Spain Conference on Higher Education was held in New Delhi from February 19-20, 2026.
* The conference coincided with the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
* **Bilateral Cooperation:**
* The conference aimed to strengthen bilateral academic and research cooperation between India and Spain.
* Education, research, and youth exchanges are central to the shared vision of both countries, celebrating 70 years of diplomatic ties as part of the Spain-India Dual Year 2026.
* Discussions have started on joint research, mobility of teachers and students, and support for start-ups.
* **India's Stance:**
* India's National Education Policy 2020 enables global academic collaboration.
* India is inviting leading Spanish universities to establish campuses in India.
* Prime Minister Modi has offered maximum facilities for Spanish universities willing to open campuses in India.
* **AI and Innovation:**
* AI must strengthen human judgment, creativity, and ethical responsibility.
* Democracies must lead in shaping responsible innovation.
* **Spanish Commitment:**
* Spanish universities, along with the Government of Spain, are committed to strengthening international academic cooperation with India.
* Over 30 Rectors and senior academic leaders representing the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) participated.
* **Future Plans:**
* There is hope that the process would mature during 2026, with a similar meeting to be held in Spain later this year.
* This could potentially lead to the signing of memorandums of understanding and agreements.
**Impact Analysis**
**Higher Education Institutions (Indian and Spanish)**
* **Impact:**
* Opportunity to deepen partnerships, collaborate on research, exchange students and teachers, and establish campuses in each other's countries.
* Opportunity to balance local priorities with a global vision.
* **Action Required:**
* Participate in collaborative processes, engage in discussions on joint initiatives, and explore opportunities for establishing campuses.
**Students and Teachers**
* **Impact:**
* Increased opportunities for mobility and exchange programs between Indian and Spanish institutions.
* Exposure to international research collaborations and diverse academic environments.
* **Action Required:**
* Explore and participate in available exchange programs and research opportunities.
**Government of India and Spain**
* **Impact:**
* Strengthening of diplomatic ties and fostering a shared vision for education, research, and youth exchanges.
* Opportunity to enhance global academic collaboration and promote innovation.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to support and facilitate collaborations between educational institutions, explore the potential for signing memorandums of understanding and agreements, and encourage Spanish universities to establish campuses in India.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy 2020: Policy enabling global academic collaboration cited during the India-Spain Conference on Higher Education
Ministry of Education: Indian government ministry; Union Education Minister addressed the conference.
India-Spain Conference on Higher Education: A bilateral conference focusing on academic and research cooperation between India and Spain.
Spain: Country partnering with India on higher education collaboration
New Delhi: Location of the India-Spain Conference on Higher Education
Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister addresses closing
ceremony on India-Spain conference of Higher
Education
Conference strengthens bilateral academic and research
cooperation landmark gathering of academic leaders from
both nations concludes in New Delhi
Posted On: 20 FEB 2026 7:15PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the closing ceremony of the India–Spain Conference on
Higher Education in New Delhi today. The two-day conference was organised on 19–20 February 2026 with the active support
of the Embassy of Spain in India. The conference coincided with the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
While addressing, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that as we celebrate the Spain–India Dual
Year 2026, marking 70 years of diplomatic ties, education, research, and youth exchanges are
central to the shared vision of the two countries. The Minister noted that India’s National
Education Policy 2020 enables global academic collaboration and extended a warm invitation
to leading Spanish universities to set up campuses in India. He emphasized that India is open,
ready, and welcoming.He said that on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, one message is clear : AI
must strengthen human judgement, creativity, and ethical responsibility, not replace it. He
added that democracies must lead in shaping responsible innovation and stated that India and
Spain are committed to doing exactly that. Shri Pradhan said that the conference is about
moving from dialogue to delivery. He remarked that the bridges of knowledge built today will
shape the confidence of the youth tomorrow.
Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Higher Education, stated that the conference has brought together
leadership from the higher education systems of India and Spain at a defining moment in the
bilateral partnership. He noted that the deliberations over the past two days were focused and
forward-looking, reaffirming that education remains central to India–Spain engagement. He
emphasized that universities play a vital role in driving innovation, economic growth,
technological advancement, and people-to-people ties.
H.E. Mr. Juan Antonio March Pujol, Ambassador of Spain to India, said that Spain is honoured
by the presence of the Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. Emphasising that knowledge
strengthens societies and guides future generations, he underlined the vital role of universities.
The Ambassador stated that the purpose of the meeting is to begin a collaborative process with
the full involvement of universities from Spain and India. He noted that discussions have started
on joint research, mobility of teachers and students, and support for start-ups. He expressed
hope that the process would mature during 2026 and that a similar meeting could be held in
Spain later this year, potentially leading to the signing of memorandums of understanding and
agreements. He acknowledged the interest of the Government of India in encouraging Spanish
universities to establish campuses in India. He recalled that the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra
Modi, had conveyed to the President of the Government of Spain that academic collaboration
is an absolute priority and had offered maximum facilities for Spanish universities willing to
open campuses in India.Prof. Eva Alcón, President of CRUE, said that the Spanish universities, together with the
Government of Spain, remain firmly committed to strengthening international academic
cooperation with India. This summit marks not a conclusion, but the beginning of a long and
meaningful partnership. She looks forward to working together to advance equitable access to
higher education, sustainable development, and global health. Achieving these shared goals
requires balancing local priorities with a global vision.
From Spain, over 30 Rectors and senior academic leaders representing the Conference of
Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) participated, reflecting a strong institutional
commitment to deepen partnerships with Indian Higher Education Institutions. From the Indian
side, about 70 Indian Higher education institutions participated.
At the India-Spain Conference on Higher Education. https://t.co/4yhFWtE0kj
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 20, 2026
At the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, one message is clear: AI
must strengthen human judgment, creativity & ethical responsibility-not replace it.
Democracies must lead in shaping responsible innovation. India and Spain are
committed to doing exactly that.
With…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 20, 2026
Together with H.E. Mr. Juan Antonio March Pujol, Ambassador of Spain to India,
delighted to address the closing session of the India–Spain Conference on Higher
Education. As we celebrate the Spain–India Dual Year 2026 marking 70 years of
diplomatic ties, education, research and… pic.twitter.com/aH1lauPQSh
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 20, 2026
*****AK
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