(a) whether the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has entered into an agreement with the Territory Education Commission (TEC) of Mauritius for mutual recognition/ equivalence of qualification;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the terms and conditions of the agreement;
(d) whether the agreement was signed in the absence of Indian signatory; and
(e) if so, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a): Yes, Madam. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications between the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) of Mauritius and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) of India was signed on 19th November 2013.
(b) and (c): The MOU recognizes the benefit of establishing mechanisms for mutual recognition in education and to improve student, professional and academic mobility between Mauritius and India. This Memorandum of Understanding aims to facilitate the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications awarded to students in Mauritius and in India by their respective higher education awarding bodies. The MOU provides for sharing of information on recognition of qualifications between the TEC and AIU and to make concrete recommendations for facilitating equivalence of qualifications in accordance with the current regulations and practices in both countries.
(d): Yes, Madam.
(e): The delegation approved by the competent authority did not include any representative from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and therefore the MOU was signed by exchanging the document electronically.