Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Hosts Shastri Bilateral Education Forum (SBEF) 2025 to Strengthen Binational Academic & Research Partnerships
In an effort to foster enduring academic and research collaborations between India and Canada, the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) successfully organized the Shastri Bilateral Education Forum (SBEF) 2025 on March 27–28, 2025. This event was strategically supported by Global Affairs-Canada, as co-hosted by SICI and Indian Institute of Heritage. With its focus on “Bridging Borders with Sustainable Academic Collaborations,” the forum aimed to strengthen binational academic and research partnerships.
The SBEF 2025, held in New Delhi’s National Museum, featured representatives from 22 Canadian universities and institutions, alongside 55 Indian institutions primarily from SICI’s esteemed Members’ Council. The event was a dynamic platform for transformative exchanges, designed to foster collaborations that can lead to impactful and long-term international academic and research initiatives.
Highlighted by the forums’ emphasis on academic innovation, the SBEF 2025 provided face-to-face engagements between Indian and Canadian institutions, encouraging rich discussions on topics such as policy development, institutional global partnerships, collaborative research, and actionable solutions for education. The event also emphasized strategic insights and frameworks to strengthen international collaborations, offering valuable guidance for building impactful and sustainable bilateral academic partnerships.
SICI’s role in this initiative is pivotal, serving as a bi-national organization dedicated to fostering international academic and research collaborations. Comprising 196 leading institutions from both India and Canada, SICI continues to play a vital role in strengthening the links between Indian and Canadian academia.
The SBEF 2025 was a significant milestone in a long-standing partnership between India and Canada, marking an important step towards broader binational education and research exchanges. By bringing together institutions from both countries, the event not only strengthened existing collaborations but also opened new avenues for new opportunities for faculty and student exchange.
In conclusion, the SBEF 2025 showcased the transformative potential of bilateral educational collaboration, highlighting the importance of fostering enduring academic and research partnerships between India and Canada. With SICI at its core, this event underscored the enduring impact of education as a bridge across borders.