Canada-India education ties entering a new era

For decades, education has been one of the strongest pillars of the Canada–India relationship. Every year, thousands of Indian students have chosen Canada for its world-class institutions, diverse society and welcoming environment. Today, nearly 400,000 Indian students are pursuing their education in Canada, a number that is greater than that in the UK and Australia combined.

That story remains an important part of our bilateral partnership. But a new chapter is beginning.

Earlier this year, a delegation from Universities Canada (UC) and from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICAN) joined Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on his visit to India, representing 300 public universities and colleges. UC and CICAN launched the Canada–India Talent and Innovation Strategy. More than a new initiative, it signals a significant shift in how our two countries think about educational cooperation—from a model centred primarily on student mobility to one focused on long-term collaboration in talent development, skills training, research and innovation.

This evolution reflects changing priorities in both countries. India’s ambition to become a developed nation under its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision is driving unprecedented investment in skills, technology and innovation. As the world’s largest youth population enters the workforce, India is increasingly focused on building domestic capabilities, strengthening research ecosystems and developing future-ready talent in areas such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and healthcare.

Canada is uniquely positioned to contribute to these goals. Our universities conduct approximately $19 billion in research annually and account for more than one-third of Canada’s total research activity. Canadian universities are globally recognized for their research excellence and are at the forefront of innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, health sciences, and advanced technologies.

Equally important is Canada’s internationally recognized system of colleges and polytechnics, which are renowned for aligning education with industry needs. They are known for applied learning, industry partnerships, rapid curriculum adaptation and workforce-focused training models that respond to emerging economic needs. Because of this approach, over 90 per cent of graduates get work in their chosen field. For example, last year, Red River College Polytechnic launched Labs4, a national commercialization network linking 38 Canadian post-secondary institutions with businesses and entrepreneurs. Through prototype development, technology validation, mentorship, and industry collaboration, the initiative helps researchers translate academic discoveries into market-ready products and services.

These strengths complement India’s aspirations to become a global hub for innovation and skilled talent. The opportunity before us is not simply to educate more students, but to deepen institutional partnerships that create value for both countries. By combining Canadian expertise in research, commercialisation and applied learning, with India’s scale, talent pool and growing innovation ecosystem, we can develop solutions to shared economic and technological challenges.

In fact, this transition is already underway. Several leading Canadian institutions are deepening their engagement in India. McGill University, in partnership with the Jubilant Bhartia Group, is establishing a Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research. The University of Toronto is working with the Indian Institute of Science to develop a Centre of Excellence focused on AI-powered predictive healthcare. The University of British Columbia’s permanent South Asia Hub is expanding transnational education and research collaborations across the region, while Dalhousie University is partnering with IIT Tirupati and IISER Tirupati to create a Tri-Institutional Global Innovation Campus. Mphasis, an Indian company has partnered with the University of Calgary and the Government of Alberta to launch Canada’s first Quantum City in Calgary.

These partnerships go far beyond traditional exchange programs. They bring together researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and students to generate new knowledge, accelerate innovation and prepare the next generation of highly skilled talent.

Momentum is growing elsewhere as well. More than 20 agreements have been signed this year between Canadian and Indian universities, research institutes and industry partners. They cover artificial intelligence, clean energy, critical minerals, agriculture and health. Programs such as the AICTE-Mitacs Globalink initiative, which supports Indian undergraduate students undertaking research placements in Canada, are helping build the connections and experience that future innovation partnerships require. Since 2018, Mitacs has supported more than 4,000 applied research projects connecting Indian and Canadian institutions. Canada has also invested in the next generation of Canada-India academic partnerships by dedicating more than 85 Indo-Pacific scholarships for Canadian graduate students and researchers to study in India and collaborate with leading Indian academics.

At the same time, both countries stand to benefit from closer alignment between education and workforce development. Canada continues to face labour shortages in sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades and advanced manufacturing. India, meanwhile, is working to realize its ambition of becoming the “Skill Capital of the World.” Structured talent pathways can help advance both objectives. Canadian institutions can work with Indian partners to deliver training aligned with Canadian standards, complemented by advanced study or workplace-based finishing programs in Canada that directly respond to employer demand.

Other supportive mechanisms could be expanding mutual recognition frameworks, strengthening credit transfer arrangements and aligning vocational standards to create smoother pathways for talent mobility while maintaining quality and professional standards.