Nibeditaa SpeaksBRICS countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in higher education, artificial intelligence, research and skills development, with a new university ranking framework and greater student mobility emerging as key priorities.
The commitments were outlined in the New Delhi Declaration, which calls for stronger links between universities, research institutions and industry as BRICS countries prepare their education systems for a rapidly changing workforce.
Among the major proposals is the further development of the BRICS University Global Ranking and Evaluation System. The idea has been under discussion since 2023 and is intended to create a framework for assessing universities across BRICS while recognising differences in the higher education systems of member countries. A specialised workshop on the proposed ranking system is scheduled to be held between September and December 2026.
The declaration also reaffirmed support for the BRICS Network University and the BRICS Rectors’ Forum, which bring together academic institutions and university leaders to promote research partnerships and exchanges.
AI, digital literacy take centre stage
AI emerged as an important part of the education agenda. BRICS leaders called for countries to share best practices on the safe, ethical and human-centred use of AI and other emerging technologies in education.
The declaration also places emphasis on early childhood education, foundational literacy and numeracy, digital literacy and the mutual recognition of qualifications. Greater academic and professional mobility is another priority, with member countries encouraged to strengthen university partnerships, student exchanges and scholarship opportunities, particularly in STEM disciplines.
India’s proposal to promote academic collaboration around traditional and indigenous knowledge systems was also welcomed. The BRICS Network University has been encouraged to consider the subject as an additional International Thematic Group, subject to its governance framework and the laws and policies of participating countries.
Research and startups get a boost
The education push is closely tied to a wider effort to strengthen research and innovation within BRICS.
The grouping has agreed to establish the BRICS Science and Research Repository (BSRR) to map and facilitate access to research outputs, datasets, infrastructure and expertise across member countries.
A BRICS Youth Startup Platform (BYSP) will also be created to encourage collaboration among young entrepreneurs. The declaration called for greater financing for startups at both early and growth stages through the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund.
Research cooperation will receive another push through a 2026–2030 action plan for large-scale research infrastructure and mega-science projects under the BRICS Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network (BRICS GRAIN).
Focus shifts to skills and jobs
BRICS leaders also backed stronger cooperation in technical and vocational education and training, calling for closer links between training institutions and industry.
The aim is to ensure that courses keep pace with changing labour-market demands and give students better opportunities for employment, innovation and knowledge exchange.
Discussions on the proposed BRICS Education Olympiad, which remains at the conception stage, will continue alongside academic and scientific exchanges.
Taken together, the measures signal a broader BRICS effort to move education cooperation beyond student exchanges towards a connected ecosystem of universities, research, technology, startups and employment.
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