Education Minister Pradhan invites Spanish universities to establish campuses in India

India and Spain concluded a two-day conference on higher education in New Delhi on Feb 20, with leaders from both countries calling for deeper academic collaboration, research partnerships, and youth engagement as diplomatic ties mark 70 years in 2026.

The India-Spain Conference on Higher Education was held on February 19 and 20, 2026, with support from the Embassy of Spain in India.

The event coincided with the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and brought together senior representatives from universities and governments of both countries.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Union Minister for Education 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.

He highlighted that India’s National Education Policy 2020 facilitates global academic partnerships and invited leading Spanish universities to establish campuses in India. He emphasized that India is open, ready, and welcoming.

Referring to discussions around artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Pradhan 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 them.

He added that democracies must lead in shaping responsible innovation and stated that India and Spain are committed to doing exactly that.

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, said the gathering came at a significant moment in bilateral relations and brought together leadership from both higher education systems.

He said that the discussions were focused and forward-looking, reinforcing the role of education as a cornerstone of India-Spain engagement. He stressed that universities are key drivers of innovation, economic growth, technological progress, and people-to-people connections.

HE Juan Antonio March Pujol, Ambassador of Spain to India, said that Spain is honored by the presence of Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He highlighted that knowledge strengthens societies and guides future generations, highlighting the importance of universities in that mission.

The ambassador said that the purpose of the meeting is to begin a collaborative process with the full involvement of universities from Spain and India. He said talks have begun on joint research, faculty and student mobility, and support for startups.

He expressed hope that the engagement would advance through 2026 and that a similar meeting could be hosted in Spain later this year, potentially resulting in memorandums of understanding and formal agreements.

He also acknowledged the Government of India’s interest in encouraging Spanish universities to set up campuses in India, recalling that Prime Minister 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.

More than 30 rectors and senior academic leaders from Spain, representing the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities, participated in the conference, signaling strong institutional commitment to expanding ties with Indian institutions. Around 70 Indian higher education institutions also took part in the discussions.