Shastri Bilateral Education Forum (SBEF) 2025

Bridging Borders with Sustainable Academic Collaborations

The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) warmly invites faculty members and administrators from its Canadian and Indian member institutions to apply for the Shastri Bilateral Education Forum (SBEF) Participation Subsidy Grant 2025.

This distinguished event aims to foster transformative academic partnerships and promote impactful collaborations between Canadian and Indian institutions. Be part of this landmark initiative to shape the future of Indo-Canadian academic synergies, build meaningful connections, and enhance your institution’s global partnerships for long-term success.

Overview

Shastri Bilateral Education Forum (SBEF) 2025:

Bridging Borders with Sustainable Academic Collaborations

Location: New Delhi, India

Participants: 110 faculty members (35 from Canadian and 75 from Indian universities)

Event Dates:
- March 27- 28 (core activities)
- March 29 - April 4, 2025 (institutional visits – optional)

Benefits of Attending SBEF

Engage in dynamic, face-to-face discussions to exchange ideas, expertise, and innovative solutions for academic collaborations.
Strengthen and expand your institution’s international partnerships and global academic footprint.
Contribute to the development of joint academic programs, research proposals, and actionable initiatives.
Gain strategic insights and frameworks for impactful and sustainable academic collaborations.

SBEF Dates-Highlights

March 27, 2025 (0.5 day)

Inaugural Session:
- Inspiring keynote addresses from distinguished speakers representing both India and Canada, laying the groundwork for meaningful dialogue and impactful collaboration.

Networking Event and Formal Dinner:
- An exclusive platform to cultivate professional connections and engage with fellow participants in a relaxed and stimulating environment.

March 28, 2025 (1 day)

Interactive Workshops and Thematic Discussions:
- Discover shared priorities and explore key areas for collaborative academic initiatives.
- Develop comprehensive frameworks and actionable timelines to drive impactful joint projects forward.

March 29- April 4, 2025

Institutional Visits by Canadian Faculty to Indian Partner Institutions:
- Forge immediate connections with Indian partner institutions.
- Collaborate with larger teams at host institutions to strengthen long-term strategic plans and partnerships.

Note: Visiting Indian partner institutions provides valuable opportunities to strengthen academic ties. However, if time is limited, this optional component can be skipped without impacting your participation in the core Forum activities scheduled for March 27–28, 2025.

SBEF Participation Subsidy Grant Details

For Canadian Faculty:
- Grant Amount: CAD 2,500 per participant/institution (to support travel and accommodation expenses).
- Number of Grants: 35

For Indian Faculty:
- Grant Amount: CAD 250 per institution/member (to support accommodation costs in New Delhi).
- Number of Grants: 75

Grant Eligibility

Grants are limited to the 35 Canadian and 75 Indian faculty applicants (one applicant per institution).
If multiple applications are submitted by the same institution, only the first submission will be considered.

Participation Fee for Additional SICI Members and Non-SICI Members

Participation in the core activities of the SBEF 2025 is open to individuals from both SICI Member and Non-Member institutions. To accommodate additional participants, the following flat fees have been established to cover meals and incidentals:

Canadian Member Institutions: CAD 250 per additional participant
Canadian Non-Member Institutions: CAD 500 per participant
Indian Member Institutions: INR 15,000 per additional participant
Indian Non-Member Institutions: INR 25,000 per participant

Detailed payment instructions will be shared by the SICI Offices upon confirmation of participation.

Key Dates

Grant Application Deadline: February 14, 2025

Grantee Announcement: February 21, 2025 (published on the SICI website).

How to Apply

Faculty members and administrators from SICI’s Canadian and Indian Member Institutions are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to secure the SBEF Participation Subsidy Grant 2025.
Completed applications must be submitted to the respective Canada and India offices, as outlined in the application forms provided below, no later than February 14, 2025.

Application Forms

Contact Information:

For Canadian Members:
Mahmuda Aldeen
Program and Member Relations Officer
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (Canada Office)
Email: maldeen@ucalgary.ca

For Indian Members:
Anju Taneja
Sr. Finance Officer
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (India Office)
Email: anjut@sici.org.in