As part of its BRICS Presidency 2026, India hosted the International Governing Board (IGB) meeting of the BRICS Network University (BRICS NU) and the BRICS Network University Conference on Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening higher education, research and academic cooperation among BRICS member countries.
Organised by the Union Ministry of Education, the two-day engagement brought together government representatives, university leaders, academics and experts from BRICS nations to enhance collaboration in higher education, innovation and institutional partnerships.
The International Governing Board meeting, held virtually on July 21, was inaugurated by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. K. M. Praphullachandra Sharma. Dean (International Relations) at IIT Bombay, Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, presented an overview of the BRICS Network University, highlighting its expanding institutional network and ongoing collaborative initiatives. Participating countries also shared updates on their universities and academic cooperation undertaken over the past year.
Representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and India showcased national initiatives and best practices in higher education. The discussions reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening the BRICS Network University through collaborative research, academic partnerships, institutional cooperation and knowledge exchange.
A key highlight of the engagement was the presentation of the outcomes of the BRICS Network University Conference on Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the first conference of its kind under the BRICS NU framework. The conference focused on the documentation, preservation and responsible digital dissemination of traditional and indigenous knowledge while emphasising ethical governance, community ownership, equitable benefit-sharing and the responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The conference also developed guiding principles to strengthen academic collaboration in the field of traditional and indigenous knowledge systems. Building on these recommendations, India proposed the inclusion of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems as a new International Thematic Group under the BRICS Network University.
The proposal received broad support from member countries, marking an important step towards institutionalising collaboration in this emerging area within the BRICS higher education framework. Member nations agreed to continue consultations on the proposal and its concept note.
During the meeting, the Governing Board also reviewed the BRICS Network University Action Plan (2025–2028), discussed the development of a new BRICS NU website, and considered measures to enhance institutional cooperation, academic mobility and joint research initiatives. It also adopted the BRICS Network University International Governing Board Declaration following detailed deliberations.
The meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment of BRICS member countries to strengthening the BRICS Network University as a platform for higher education, research, innovation and people-to-people exchanges. India thanked all participating delegations for their constructive engagement and reiterated its commitment to advancing academic cooperation under the theme of its BRICS Presidency 2026 — “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
