Rupa
The Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, IIT Madras has signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) Zanzibar- Tanzania on 6 July 2023. The MoU was signed in the august presence of S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India and H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar. According to this agreement, IIT Madras will set up a campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It will be the first global campus set up by IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), a premier institute in science and technology in India.
The agreement mirrors the longstanding friendship between the two countries and also sends a reminder to the world about India’s priority of developing people-to-people bonding across the Global South, with a specific focus on Africa.
Sh. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, High Commissioner of India, Tanzania, Mr. Khalid Masoud Wazir, Acting Principal Secretary, MoEVT Zanzibar and Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras signed the MoU on behalf of GOI (Government of India), MoEVT Zanzibar- Tanzania and IIT Madras, respectively.
NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 focuses on the Internationalization of education and asserts that “High performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries”. The exchange of knowledge is highly important in building educated and intelligent human resource that is a driving force behind a country’s growth, development and progress.
Recognizing the strategic relationship between India and Tanzania, the representatives of both countries and IIT Madras signed the document to formalize their partnership in the educational field. The signed document will serve as a guideline for the parties who will put everything in detail about setting up the proposed campus of IIT Madras, which is expected to come up in Oct 2023 in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The unique and strategic partnership will benefit Tanzania, an important destination in Africa. IITM is one of the top-ranked institutions in India and holds a respectable position in global ranking as well. The educational expertise and value of an institution like IITM will serve the country’s current needs. IIT Madras will detail the academic curriculum, program, and student selection procedure whereas the capital and operational expenses will be borne by the Government of Zanzibar-Tanzania.
The campus will offer Bachelor of Science degrees in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Data Science and M. Tech in Cyber-Physical and Energy Systems. The first batch will welcome 50 students for its Bachelor’s Program and 20 students for its Master’s Program. The students, who will enroll in the state-of-the-art campus, will receive IIT Madras degrees. The interdisciplinary degrees are likely to attract a diverse group of students and include students from Tanzania, other African countries and even non-African counties. Indian students can also enroll in the education program conducted by the IITM campus in Tanzania.
That an IITM campus coming up in a foreign country will also strengthen India’s global reputation, enhance its diplomatic ties and expand IIT Madras’ footprints on the International platform. It will improve the quality of education imparted and research conducted by IIT Madras further, owing to the diversity of students and faculty from the international campus. It will expand research collaboration with other top-tier academic institutions throughout the world.
IIT campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania is envisaged as a leading hub that will impart and promote higher education and research. The partnership is based on a broader mission of developing aptitude and competencies that can address emerging global needs, bolster ties between the countries and encourage research, innovation and development in the region. It will convey a strong message to the world: the high aspiration of India’s elite educational institutions and their commitment to research and development.
IIT Kharagpur and IIT Delhi will also open their international campuses in Kuala Lumpur and Abu Dhabi, respectively.
