'India eyes educational capacity building tie-up with Bhutan'

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani Wednesday said India was keen to collaborate with Bhutan on capacity building of teachers and educational institutions.

She also highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in the field of education.

According to an official statement, in a meeting between Bhutan ambassador Vestop Namgyel and Irani, she said: "India was keen to collaborate with Bhutan to build capacities of teachers and educational institutions".

While appreciating the cooperation extended by India in the field of education, including the Nehru-Wangchuk Scholarship which enables deserving Bhutanese students to study in India, Namgyel sought further assistance from Irani for admission of Bhutanese students to institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the statement added.

Irani said while direct admission of foreign students is already permitted in NITs (National Institutes of Technology), the issue of admitting Bhutanese students to IITs and IIMs will be "examined".

Further highlighting the need to strengthen cooperation between IIT-Kanpur and the Royal Bhutanese University, Irani said: "The two countries may explore setting up of educational institutions in Bhutan."