MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OFEDUCATION AND RESEARCH, KINGDOM OF NORWAY AND MINISTRY OF

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, REPUBLIC OF INDIAON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

The Ministry of Education and Research, Kingdom of Norway and theMinistry of Human Resource Development, Republic of India (hereinafterreferred to as the Parties");

Desiring to strengthen bilateral relations in the field of education;

Recalling the profound impact of education on human resource, economicand social development;

Recognizing that greater linkages between the countries in the field ofeducation would be mutually beneficial;

Recalling the Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Culture between theKingdom of Norway and the Republic of India signed on 19.4.1987;

Have reached the following understanding:

Article I

The Parties shall encourage, as appropriate, the development of contactsand cooperation between the educational institutions of the Parties, basedon their respective academic and educational needs. These may include allor some of the following activities:

i) exchange of research materials, publications, educational literature,teaching aids, demonstration material and information;

ii) organization of joint conferences, exhibitions and seminars;

iii) organization of joint research programmes and publications;

iv) organization of training programmes for educational administratorsand teachers;

v) exchange of academic and other administrative staff;

vi) exchange of scholars, teachers, experts and students;

vii) twinning arrangements between institutions of higher learning;

0 1

S

•viii) to develop bilateral programmes between institutions of educational

excellence in technical, vocational and higher education;

ix) examine the possibility of mutual recognition of educationalqualifications;

x) setting up of chairs on contemporary studies;

xi) providing mutual assistance in the fields of Information Technology,Computer Science, mathematics & science;

xii) any other activity as agreed by both Parties.

Article II

0Both Parties will make available to the other the necessary informationconcerning their education system, quality assurance, recognition andlicensing requirements and assist in developing mutual understanding andappropriate procedures for facilitating evaluation and recognition ofacademic credentials.

Article III

The substance, scope and implementation of activities or cooperation withinthe terms of this MOU may be the subject of more specific arrangements tobe concluded in the future between selected institutions in the twocountries. The Parties may consider the development of a bilateralagreement in the field of education to replace this MoU in the future.

Article IV

0 Nothing shall diminish the full autonomy of either Party, nor will anyconstraints or financial obligations be imposed by either Party upon theother, in carrying out the MoU.

Article V

The costs of the co-operative activities under this MoU shall be funded onterms to be mutually determined and shall be subject to the availability offunds.

Article VI

0

The Parties shall establish a Joint Working Group to concretise this MoU,and possibly to develop a bilateral agreement in the field of education if theParties find it mutually beneficial. The Joint Working Group will be chaired

2

<11?

•

•

0

•on behalf of the Kingdom of Norway by a representative of the Ministry ofEducation and Research, and on behalf of the Republic of India, by arepresentative of the, Ministry of Human Resource Development, along withthe participation of representatives of the other agencies of the parties, asappropriate. The Joint Working Group shall meet alternately in Norway andIndia.

Article VII

0

The Joint Working Group shall review and discuss the development ofmutual relations in education and activities under this MoU, but alsoexchange views on international education policies, multilateral initiatives inthis field and principles or sustainable education exchange.

Such topics may include, but are not limited to:

• International initiatives for quality control in cross-border provision ofhigher education;

• Education in the context of GATS;• UNESCO initiatives in higher education, such as regional conventions

on qualifications;• Implications of the European Bologna Process and its global context,

as discussed in the ministerial communique at the London meting in2007;

• The identification of mutually beneficial education and trainingschemes in higher education institutions or in industry which willincrease the potential for exchange of services and manpowerbetween the two countries;

• The identification and implementation of measures and activitiesenvisaged in this MoU.

Article VIII

The Parties shall establish mutual points of contact for regular consultationson matters related to the bilateral education relations between the Parties,and establish contact procedures to facilitate communication.

Article IX

40

The MoU shall be in force on the date of signing by both the Parties andshall remain in force for a period of five years or until it is replaced by abilateral agreement in the field of education.

3

•

•

0

•Done at Oslo on 18 June 2008, in two original copies in Hindi and Englishlanguages, both texts being equally authentic. In case of any doubt, theEnglish text shall prevail.

For the Ministry of Education and For the Ministry of HumanResearch Resource Development

H. E. Ms. Tora Aasland H. E. Mr. Banbit RoyMinister of Research and Higher Ambassador of the Republic ofEducation of the Kingdom of Norway India

40

4

0

wT -4ft 2Tf ift wz;Ei5 A' f T-w c- zTf

3 Tfcf Ø cT Ø c1I TcT

fT«a 4w -al Ø-em di vi i a r vnLrdi

un-f -Qft 2Tr f T49r c-f- 2TT 3 ai5l1c1Er 3 alTc7

Ø -c-fft -ir5r airw

-r "tr4-r" ~ ww -t) i'rr;

fT4iT " * fq$" ~ ~ -,ft Ø Ø

trw L;

aT-.Tir z4-,--, 3Tlf t f CP l -q:i _~ f T4>-TT iti d i ;

l:r2lT'r zisT zwzw ;

wgz;pr f f T&-TT -åi ~ 22TYr c k zr --2:~

r-fr&T

&Tr£lf Ø 3 TF c 2Tr T c cf- c

RiSiTcl 1 9.4.1 9 8 7

r Ø i"if`cf Ø -c7ft -t-

~-I".

tr$-TcFr.,Y- 3~-3~ 3c -ri ?MT Qft r~ 31Tc1cr31 ''

3iTFTr£ zrcFil i 2 ØTr3 c-i a r Ø c'2aT r

ci r2Tr- Øcr Ø I Td 2 :2råft 3T2T-crT Ø

cr>I;Efcf>&Tq 2T~ •-

i ili£Tru ZiT<*149, ~.2T;&l, 2ftr4-TC-15 %T~

c 2TT jEtsT

11) Ø ZIJiAclaiYf, 2fF7F c--r2:[T c-FT 31T~;

/Oh

0

0

á

á

U

FS

a

iJ

..

••

•

0

á

••

• 1J'

' .

;3J

/ O

y•

y40

0

•