New Delhi, Dec 9: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met with Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to discuss a broad range of initiatives aimed at strengthening educational cooperation between the two nations.

Pradhan described the discussion as “productive,” highlighting mutual commitment to elevating the India–Saudi Arabia knowledge partnership to a higher level.

A key focus of the talks was the establishment of foreign campuses of Indian universities in Saudi Arabia and vice versa, a move that could substantially enhance academic mobility, cross-cultural exposure, and global collaboration.

The two ministers also explored opportunities for undertaking joint research in critical, emerging, and next-generation technologies. Such collaboration, Pradhan noted, would help both nations build capacity in fields that will shape global progress in the coming decades.

Recognizing the strong Indian community in the Kingdom, Pradhan discussed the possibility of opening more CBSE schools in Saudi Arabia, which would expand educational choices for Indian expatriate families and strengthen academic ties.

He further extended an invitation to Saudi students to pursue their higher studies in India.

Pradhan emphasized the alignment between India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Saudi Vision 2030, noting that both frameworks prioritize education, innovation, and knowledge-driven growth.