The Centre on Thursday announced plans to set up its first campus of the prestigious IIT outside India in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The foreign campus will be set by the IIT Madras and programmes for the campus will be launched in October this year keeping in mind the parameters of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which focuses on internationalisation and recommends high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.
A MoU was signed on Wednesday in Zanzibar, between India's Ministry of Education, IIT Madras and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of Zanzibar. External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, and the President of Zanzibar were present on the occasion.
"Witnessed the signing of the agreement on setting up of IIT Madras Zanzibar campus. We appreciate the President (Dr Hussein Al Mwinyi) gracing the occasion, as also the presence of his ministers. This historic step reflects India's commitment to the Global South,” said External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar.
Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan said that MoU signing for setting up IIT Madras- Zanzibar campus marks a historic beginning towards internationalization of higher education.
He further said that the initiative is an embodiment of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to strengthen South-South cooperation as well as forge stronger people-to-people ties with Africa. “NEP 2020 is paving the way for making knowledge a key component of bilateral relations as well as for advancing global good,” Pradhan said in a statement.
This partnership will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IITM to a prime destination in Africa and serve the imperative current needs of the region. "The academic programs, curricula, student selection aspects and pedagogical details will be by IIT Madras, whereas the capital and operating expenditure will be met by the government of Zanzibar-Tanzania.
IIT Madras degrees will be awarded to the students enrolled in this campus. The state-of-the-art interdisciplinary degrees are expected to attract a diverse cohort and will include students from Africa and other countries as well. Indian students are also eligible to apply to these programs,” according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The setting up of the IIT Campus is expected to enhance India’s reputation globally and its diplomatic relationships and expand the international footprint of IIT Madras.