New Delhi: The Ministry of Education hosted the International Governing Board (IGB) meeting of the BRICS Network University following a conference on Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, officials said on Wednesday.

The two-day event, which began on July 20, brought together government representatives, university leaders, academics and experts from BRICS member countries to strengthen cooperation in higher education, research and innovation.

Representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates shared country-specific initiatives and best practices in higher education and research.

According to the ministry, the discussions reaffirmed the commitment of BRICS member countries to strengthening the BRICS Network University through greater academic collaboration, joint research, institutional partnerships and knowledge exchange.

The conference focused on the mapping, documentation, preservation and responsible digital dissemination of traditional and indigenous knowledge systems. It also emphasised ethical governance, community ownership, equitable benefit-sharing and the responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

The participants developed a set of guiding principles on strengthening academic collaboration in traditional and indigenous knowledge systems for consideration by the International Governing Board.

During its meeting, the board reviewed the BRICS Network University Action Plan for 2025-2028 and discussed the development of a new BRICS-NU website.

The board also considered measures to promote institutional cooperation, academic mobility and collaborative research among member countries and adopted the BRICS Network University International Governing Board Declaration after detailed deliberations.

The BRICS Network University serves as a platform for higher education institutions across member countries to promote academic cooperation, research partnerships and the exchange of knowledge in priority areas of mutual interest.