About Us India and Venezuela Cooperation in the field of Education

India and Venezuela have a rich tradition of cooperation in the area of education and training. One of the major pillars of cooperation in this field is the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. The ITEC Programme, fully funded by the Government of India, has evolved and grown over the last 50 years. Under ITEC, India is happy to share with Venezuela India’s developmental experience acquired over six decades of her existence as a free nation.

Training or capacity building is one of the major activities under ITEC. Professionals from Venezuela are offered unique training courses in different centres of excellence in India which empower them with not just professional skills, but prepare them for an increasingly globalized world. There are nearly 50 institutions in India which conduct nearly 300 short-term, medium-term and long-term ITEC courses during the year. In the last decade or so, nearly 200 Venezuelans have availed the benefits of this programme.

The courses have been divided into seven broad categories: (i) Accounts, Audit, Banking and Finance Courses (ii) IT, Telecommunication and English Courses (iii) Management Courses (iv) SMEs/Rural Development Courses (v) Specialized Courses (vi) Technical Courses and (vii) Environment and Renewable Energy Courses.

The Government of India provides return economy class air tickets for travel of participants from Caracas to the training Institute in India. Visas are given gratis. Course fees are borne by the Government of India. Accommodation is also provided by Government of India. A living allowance of approximately USD 400 per month is provided. A book allowance of approximately USD 80 is provided.  In short, nearly all expenses are paid for by the Government of India.

While preference is given to professionals working in government institutions, professionals working in universities, chambers of commerce and even private companies of Venezuela are welcome to apply.  To get maximum benefit out of the ITEC programme, basic knowledge of English is a requirement. Details about ITEC programme can be seen online at http://itec.mea.gov.in/. The ITEC alumni interact through Facebook (www.facebook.com/ITECnetwork. There is also a special Facebook page for ITEC alumni from South America: https://www.facebook.com/Becarios-del-ITEC-1504575409861226/

The ITEC programme is a visible symbol of India's role and contribution to South-South cooperation and India’s strong bond of friendship with Venezuela. South-South Cooperation is a partnership born out of a shared sense of solidarity and is entirely voluntary and free of conditionalities. India remains a staunch proponent and practitioner of South-South Cooperation which constitutes a fundamental pillar of India's foreign policy and diplomacy.