Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday addressed the closing ceremony of the India–Spain Conference on Higher Education in New Delhi, emphasising that education, research and youth exchanges are central to the shared vision of the two countries during the Spain–India Dual Year 2026 marking 70 years of diplomatic ties.
The two-day conference, held on February 19–20, 2026, with active support from the Embassy of Spain in India, coincided with the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
Pradhan noted that India’s National Education Policy 2020 enables global academic collaboration and extended a warm invitation to leading Spanish universities to establish campuses in India, stating that the country is open, ready and welcoming.
On the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Minister said 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 affirmed that India and Spain are committed to doing so. Pradhan described the conference as moving from dialogue to delivery, remarking that the bridges of knowledge built today will shape the confidence of the youth tomorrow.
Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Higher Education, said the conference brought together leadership from the higher education systems of India and Spain at a defining moment in bilateral partnership. He noted that the deliberations over the past two days were focused and forward-looking, reaffirming education’s central role in India–Spain engagement and highlighting universities’ vital contribution to innovation, economic growth, technological advancement and people-to-people ties.
Juan Antonio March Pujol, Ambassador of Spain to India, said Spain is honoured by Minister Pradhan’s presence. He underlined that knowledge strengthens societies and guides future generations, with universities playing a vital role. The Ambassador stated that the meeting aims to begin a collaborative process with full involvement of universities from both countries, covering joint research, mobility of teachers and students, and support for start-ups. He expressed hope that the process would mature during 2026, potentially leading to a similar meeting in Spain later this year and the signing of memorandums of understanding and agreements. The Ambassador acknowledged India’s interest in encouraging Spanish universities to open campuses, recalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to the President of the Government of Spain that academic collaboration is an absolute priority and offered maximum facilities for Spanish universities willing to establish campuses in India.
Prof. Eva Alcón, President of CRUE (Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities), said Spanish universities, together with the Government of Spain, remain firmly committed to strengthening international academic cooperation with India. She described the summit as the beginning of a long and meaningful partnership and looked forward to working together on equitable access to higher education, sustainable development and global health, balancing local priorities with a global vision.
Over 30 Rectors and senior academic leaders from Spain, representing CRUE, participated, reflecting strong institutional commitment to deepen partnerships with Indian higher education institutions. About 70 Indian higher education institutions took part from the Indian side.
