New Delhi – Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) has been selected as one of the 20 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across India to host and participate in the launch of the prestigious EU–India Student Ambassadors Network. This is an initiative under the European Union’s Public and Cultural Diplomacy Programme in India.
The formal launch of the network was held in New Delhi on 24th June 2026, under the auspices of H.E. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India. Representatives from each site marked the conference as the next major milestone in developing educational, cultural and youth initiatives between India and the European Union.
IIIT-Delhi joins the league of other prestigious institutions in India, including IISc, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, University of Mumbai and many other world-class institutions. This conference provided an exceptional opportunity for dialogue and collaboration between institutions present at the conference; discussions were held with representatives from a variety of European countries, including the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, and Portugal. During the conference, IIIT-Delhi distributed information about its postsecondary institutions (e.g., publications), provided information about international activities (e.g., IRASHUB) and exemplified IIIT-Delhi’s academic & research contributions on a much larger scale.
IIIT-Delhi was also invited to make a presentation as one of only three representatives selected from the participating institutions. During the session, Dr. Jainendra Shukla presented the journey and key outcomes of IRAS-HUB, an EU-funded project that brings together 10 partners from India and four European countries to strengthen capacity building in Robotics and Autonomous Systems in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jainendra Shukla, Faculty, IIIT-Delhi, said, “Being selected among the first twenty institutions for the EU–India Student Ambassadors Network is a significant recognition of IIIT-Delhi’s growing international engagement. The initiative creates meaningful opportunities for our students to interact with global academic communities, explore international mobility programmes, and contribute to strengthening India–Europe educational partnerships.”
The EU–India Student Ambassadors Network has been established to build a cohort of student leaders across India’s premier institutions. These ambassadors will promote awareness of European Union policies and educational opportunities. They will also overlook academic collaborations and youth engagement initiatives.
Joshita Yadav (PhD student, IIIT-Delhi) said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as an EU-India Student Ambassador. This initiative and student network offer a valuable platform to engage with representatives from diverse backgrounds, strengthen dialogue on EU-India relations, and contribute to meaningful cross-cultural exchange. I look forward to fostering meaningful collaborations and strengthening academic and cultural ties through this role. It is a privilege to represent IIIT-Delhi on this international platform.”
Another Student Ambassador from IIIT-Delhi, Hardik Madan added, “Being part of this initiative gives students a unique platform to engage directly with global institutions and programmes. We look forward to creating awareness about opportunities such as Erasmus+ and fostering stronger connections between Indian and European student communities.”
The EU-India Student Ambassadors Network will support the New Strategic EU-India Agenda, which has goals including but not limited to: skills mobility, mutual understanding, cooperation among institutions, and cooperation among people. The appointed student ambassadors will play an important role in promoting academic mobility, creating dialogue, and creating sustainable partnerships between higher education institutions in both India and Europe through the network.
The network will also promote awareness of EU programmes and policies in India, provide mobility opportunities through Erasmus+ and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and encourage greater levels of participation by students. Ultimately, this will build a sustainable student-led ecosystem that will have a long-term transformational effect on education and culture.
IIIT-Delhi, as a selected member of the network, is proud to be a part of this milestone project and committed to expanding our global academic partnerships and providing additional opportunities for our students to connect with the global higher education community.