NEW DELHI, Sept 13: Education emerged as an important area of cooperation at the BRICS Summit, with member countries emphasising the need to make learning systems more responsive to changing economic and workforce requirements.
The education agenda focuses on strengthening childhood care, improving the relevance of academic courses and ensuring that students acquire skills suited to evolving employment opportunities.
A key priority is closer alignment between education and the labour market. As technology transforms industries and creates new categories of jobs, BRICS countries are looking at ways to ensure that academic programmes keep pace with these changes.
The emphasis on market relevant courses is also intended to help young people make smoother transitions from classrooms to workplaces. Institutions are increasingly being encouraged to combine academic knowledge with practical and professional skills.
The discussions come at a time when artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies are reshaping the nature of work across sectors. Education systems therefore face growing pressure to prepare students not only for existing professions but also for emerging career opportunities.
Childhood care and early learning have also been highlighted as important components of the broader education agenda. Strengthening foundational learning can help improve educational outcomes and create a stronger base for later academic and professional development.
The BRICS approach places human capital development at the centre of wider economic cooperation. Better education and skills can contribute to productivity, innovation and employment while helping member countries respond to demographic and technological changes.
For students, the emphasis on relevant courses and future oriented skills could gradually lead to greater integration of technology, vocational learning and industry exposure into education programmes.
The discussions also underline the importance of cooperation among BRICS countries in sharing educational practices and developing approaches that can address common challenges.
As the global economy becomes increasingly technology driven, the focus on employability and adaptable learning is expected to remain central to education policy across the grouping.