National Security and International Relations in India are no longer understood in narrow military terms. They have many more stakeholders now than ever before. Areas such as human rights, climate, water and environment security, education, medical and healthcare, pharmaceutical industry, cybersecurity, maritime security, low intensity conflicts, diaspora and soft power have moved to the centre stage and assumed  importance in matters of national security governance. Education is a critical aspect of this national security related conversation. The need for knowledge diplomacy in enhancing India’s national security and foreign policy goals and provoking a public discussion in this regard is the need of the hour.

Historically, education, especially higher education, has served nation-states as a potent tool of soft power. The USC Center on Public Diplomacy produces a Soft Power Index ranking countries on various criteria, in which education is an important one. Most countries on its top 30 list (India not included) have some form of strategies to internationalise their higher education. For instance, the US has within its State Department, a Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs, which builds and sustains strategies to improve US public diplomacy through educational exchanges and partnerships with academic institutions.

Even countries that do not have world-class higher education facilities have sought to positively employ education diplomacy to supplement weaknesses in other aspects of national power. Case in point is the Kosovo International Summer Academy (KSA) that runs a summer program aimed specifically at spreading a positive image of the country amongst foreigners. A study conducted for the Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Communication argued that KSA has “the potential to influence the perceptions, attitudes, and country image of international visitors towards Kosovo, including those from countries that have not yet recognised Kosovo, or categorically refuse to do so.”

With such evidence before us about the importance of education diplomacy for national security and international relations, India’s superpower ambitions require a comprehensive strategy to use the Indian education sector, both private and government, towards advancing India's strategic aims and objectives. A starting point to experiment such knowledge/education diplomacy lies in its neighbourhood. In the ancient days, India was one of the key destinations for knowledge accumulation, even when many of today’s high ranking European nations were experiencing the dark ages. Today, as India aspires to reclaim its civilisational glory, it is time and opportune for the government and the private sector to empower Indian universities to strengthen India’s strategic footprints in its neighbourhood and its immediate concentric. 

Higher education institutions such as IITs, IIMs, Business Schools and Institutions of National Importance such as the Rastriya Raksha University (RRU) must take the lead in this direction. The practice of operating in silos has to be avoided and collaborative platforms should be created for this purpose. The initiative should emanate from the private sector whilst the government has to play a meaningful role through the involvement of the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Commerce Ministry and the Ministry of Education.  The role of state governments and Union Territories must also be another consideration.

Knowledge Diplomacy Avenues for India

There are several ways Indian educational institutions can become force multipliers:

1. Educational Outreach

Scholarship Programs: Offer scholarships to students from neighbouring countries. This can foster goodwill and create a network of alumni who are positively inclined towards India.

Exchange Programs: Promote student and faculty exchange programs to enhance cultural and academic ties.

2. Capacity Building and Skill Development

Training Programs: Develop specialized training programs for students and professionals from neighbouring countries in fields like technology, healthcare, and public administration.

Technical Assistance: Provide technical assistance and expertise in developing educational infrastructure in neighbouring countries.

3. Research and Collaboration

Joint Research Initiatives: Partner with universities and research institutions in neighbouring countries on projects that address common regional issues such as climate change, public health, and sustainable development.

Collaborative Innovation: Establish centers of excellence that focus on regional challenges and promote innovation through collaborative research.

4. Cultural Promotion

Cultural Exchange: Organize cultural exchange programs and events that promote Indian culture, language, and heritage, thereby strengthening cultural ties.

Language Programs: Offer courses in Indian languages and promote linguistic ties with neighbouring countries.

5. Policy Advocacy and Think Tanks

Policy Research: Establish think tanks within universities that focus on regional policy issues and contribute to policy formulation and advocacy.

Forums and Conferences: Host international forums and conferences that bring together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss regional cooperation and development.

6. Economic and Technological Partnerships

Industry-Academia Collaboration: Facilitate collaborations between Indian industries and universities with counterparts in neighbouring countries to drive economic growth and technological advancements.

Start-up Ecosystems: Support the development of start-up ecosystems in neighbouring countries through mentorship, funding, and access to Indian innovation hubs.

7. Health and Social Initiatives

Public Health Programs: Launch public health initiatives and research projects that address common health challenges in the region.

Social Development Projects: Engage in social development projects that focus on education, gender equality, and poverty alleviation in neighbouring countries.

8. Online Education and Digital Outreach

Online Courses: Offer online courses and degrees accessible to students in neighbouring countries, leveraging India's growing digital infrastructure.

MOOCs and E-Learning Platforms: Develop Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and e-learning platforms tailored to the educational needs of the region.

9. Environmental Sustainability

Environmental Research: Conduct research on environmental issues affecting the region and collaborate on sustainable development projects.

Green Initiatives: Promote green technologies and sustainable practices through educational programs and partnerships.

10. Alumni Networks

Alumni Engagement: Create strong alumni networks of foreign students who have studied in India, fostering long-term relationships and soft power influence.

Brand Ambassadors: Encourage alumni to act as ambassadors of Indian education and culture in their home countries.

By leveraging these strategies, Indian universities can significantly contribute to regional stability, development, and cooperation, aligning with India's broader strategic aims and objectives.

Universities and international collaborations

Ramiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), Bangalore. By virtue of its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Army Training Command (ARTRAC), RUAS established the Centre for National Security Studies (CNSS) Bangalore as a fusion of academia-military-corporate/VC and startup.  It has several collaborations with like-minded institutions in India and overseas. Focus Areas: Traditional and Non-Traditional National Security related subjects,  China, Taiwan, Tibet, Indo-Pacific, Pacific Islands Countries, Space, Aviation, Defence and Next Technologies and  Cybersecurity and Maritime security.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU): School of International Studies: JNU's School of International Studies has collaborations with universities like the University of Oxford, King's College London, and Georgetown University for joint research on international relations and security studies. Strategic Partnerships: These partnerships involve exchange programs, joint research projects, and academic conferences on global and regional security issues.

University of Delhi: Department of East Asian Studies: Collaboration with Japanese and South Korean universities for research on regional security dynamics in Asia. Focus Areas: Joint studies on maritime security, nuclear non-proliferation, and cyber security that align with India's external security policies.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE): Manipal Centre for European Studies: Collaboration with European institutions like Sciences Po and the University of Paris for research on European security and its implications for South Asia. Security Studies: Focuses on counter-terrorism, intelligence studies, and defence policy, contributing to a deeper understanding of global security dynamics.

Symbiosis International University: Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS): Partnership with the University of Queensland and other Australian institutions for research on Indo-Pacific security. Indo-Pacific Focus: Emphasizes the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region and its relevance to India's security policies.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS): Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies: Collaboration with universities in the UK and the US for research on conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and security. Conflict Studies: These studies support India's role in international peacekeeping and conflict resolution.

Aligning knowledge diplomacy with strategic goals

The examples cited above are by no means exhaustive. It only offers a template to utilise available resources towards attaining the goal of knowledge diplomacy. Underlying these suggestions lies the greater demand for a comprehensive strategy that clearly articulates the foreign policy and national security goals of the Indian state.

A recent study conducted by scholars from the Central University of Punjab (CUP) noted that countries with successful histories of knowledge diplomacy had associated foreign policy goals. France and Britain used education as means of fostering relations with erstwhile colonies; American educational programs during the Cold War focused on containing anti-Americanism and resisting Soviet influence; Turkish educational exchanges were aimed at developing goodwill ambassadors in the South Caucasus and Central Asia; whereas Saudi Arabia’s proliferation of educational institutions internationally aimed at making the country the leader of the Islamic world. Provision of scholarships, internationally accepted syllabi, and students' experience have remained the key factors behind attracting international students.

Education as a soft power tool

India will, therefore, need a comprehensive strategy guiding its knowledge diplomacy. The study cited above by scholars of CUP indeed provides a six-point requirement for harnessing education as a soft power tool that is worthy of recollection. These include well defined foreign policy goals, higher education policy, reputed institutions and quality of education, academic and non-academic facilities, international cross-border students’ mobility, and cultural and political values. The last factor appears to be critical when assessing the data on knowledge exchange in the last two decades. Several studies have shown that despite massive Chinese investments in higher education and student exchanges, little success has been achieved in building a favourable opinion of the country. Reasons range from conflicting political values to linguistic challenges. 

India, with its large English-speaking population and democratic ideals, finds its politico-cultural values greater attraction within the region and the larger Global South. What India truly lacks is world-class universities for knowledge exchange, which can be achieved through improved funds for both STEM and humanities, incorruptible teaching and research culture, better citations record, and employment opportunities for graduates. This will ensure that New Delhi has both goodwill ambassadors internationally as well as a steady pool of knowledgeable citizens to support its national security and foreign policy goals.

(Dr. Dheeraj Paramesha Chaya is lecturer in intelligence and international security at the University of Hull, U.K. P.M. Heblikar is a member, council, Centre for National Security Studies (CNSS), Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), Bangalore. Views are personal. They can be contacted at pm.heblikar@gmail.com )