Lok Sabha Question No. 221 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Status of Global Initiative for Academic Network
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Bhavana Gawali (Patil), Dhanush M Kumar, Ganesan Selvam, C.N. Annadurai, Gautham Sigamani Pon

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2021

## Status of Global Initiative for Academic Network

## 221. SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the present status of Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN) programme along-with its aims and objectives;
- (b)  the number of Universities and faculty that participated in the programme;
- (c)  the  details  of  international  faculties  hired  under  GIAN  programme  to  impart education  and  enhance  knowledge  of  different  courses  in  various  higher education institutions during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (d)  whether  the  programme  has  helped  to  improve  the  global  rankings  of  Indian Universities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  other  steps  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide opportunity  to  the  students  to  seek  knowledge  and  experience  from  reputed international faculty?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) Ministry of Education initiated the Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN) in  Higher  Education  which  aimed  at  tapping  the  talent  pool  of  scientists  and entrepreneurs, internationally, to encourage their engagement with the institutes of Higher  Education  in  India  so  as  to  augment  the  country's  existing  academic resources,  accelerate  the  pace  of  quality  reform  and  elevate  India's  scientific  and technological capacity to global excellence. The Standing Finance Committee (SFC) has  approved  the  continuation  of  Global  Initiative  for  Academic  Network  (GIAN) scheme for a period of five (5) year i.e. 2021-2022 to 2025-2026.

(b) A number of 3554 faculties from 203 Institutions/ Universities participated in the scheme, as coordinators of GIAN Courses.

(c)  In the year 2018, 377 foreign faculties and in the year 2019, 200 foreign faculties visited under this programme. However, due to Covid pandemic, no foreign faculty visited in the year 2020 and 2021 (till November, 2021).

(d)  One  of  the  major  components  in  global  ranking  procedure  is  the  international collaboration and visit of foreign faculty and students. This scheme is improving the visibility of the Indian higher education Institutions worldwide through the academic collaboration of foreign faculty in terms of delivering lectures, co-authoring of course materials and initiating potential research collaboration.

(e)   Higher Education Institutions also enter into MoUs with foreign Universities for various collaboration programme, which also provides the opportunity to the students to seek knowledge and experience from reputed international faculty.

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