HEADLINE: BRICS nations put AI, skills and student mobility at centre of new education roadmap
BRICS education ministers have adopted a joint declaration placing artificial intelligence, skill development, research collaboration and academic mobility among the priorities for education cooperation across member countries.
The declaration was adopted at the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bhubaneswar, held under India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026. The framework outlines areas where member nations plan to deepen collaboration as education systems respond to technological change and evolving workforce requirements.
Artificial intelligence forms part of the research and innovation agenda outlined in the declaration. Member countries agreed to encourage joint research projects, strengthen innovation and start-up ecosystems, and promote the safe, ethical and human-centred use of AI in education.
The inclusion of AI comes as educational institutions globally assess how the technology can be incorporated into teaching, research and skill development while addressing concerns around responsible deployment. The BRICS declaration positions AI alongside broader efforts to prepare learners for emerging technologies and changing employment requirements.
Technical and vocational education is another focus area. The member nations agreed to strengthen cooperation through the BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training Cooperation Alliance. India also proposed an International Skill Gap Study, which interested BRICS countries can join voluntarily.
The proposed study is aimed at developing a better understanding of skill requirements across participating economies as technology changes the nature of jobs and creates demand for new capabilities.
The declaration also focuses on improving access to Early Childhood Care and Education and strengthening Foundational Literacy and Numeracy. It calls for inclusive approaches and the use of age-appropriate digital learning tools, bringing technology into the education agenda from the foundational stage.
Academic mobility emerged as another area of cooperation. BRICS ministers agreed to continue discussions on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding for the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications. Such a framework could make it easier for academic and professional qualifications to be recognised across participating countries and facilitate movement between education systems.
The declaration also supports faculty exchanges and scholarship programmes, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It backs continued engagement through the BRICS Rectors’ Forum and exploratory work towards developing a BRICS University Global Ranking and Evaluation System.
India also proposed guiding principles for greater academic collaboration on traditional and indigenous knowledge systems. The declaration welcomed the proposal and suggested that the BRICS Network University explore the possibility of including the area as a new international thematic group.
Delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Iran, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates participated in the meeting alongside India.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, who chaired the meeting, said education systems need to evolve in line with the aspirations of future generations while remaining centred on human values. India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship is being conducted under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The declaration builds on existing BRICS mechanisms for cooperation in higher education, research and skills while extending the agenda towards AI and other emerging technologies. The outcomes are expected to feed into broader BRICS cooperation ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi in September.