New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the first IIT campus outside India will come up in Tanzania’s Zanzibar and academic programs are expected to begin in October. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently on a visit to Tanzania, described the move as a “historic step” that shows India’s commitment to the Global South.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for setting up the campus of IIT-Madras in Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) campus in Zanzibar-Tanzania is envisioned as a world-class higher education and research institution with a broad mission of developing competencies in response to emerging global needs.
“It will serve as an example to the world of the ambitious qualities of Indian higher education and innovation,” it said in a statement. The MoU was signed on Wednesday in the presence of Jaishankar and Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwini.
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The Ministry of External Affairs said, “The first IIT campus to be set up outside India will be in Zanzibar.” He said that this will increase India’s prestige at the global level. It said that an MoU was signed between the Ministry of Education of India, IIT Madras and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of Zanzibar.
“The campus reflects the long-standing friendship between India and Tanzania and is a reminder of India’s focus on building people-to-people ties across Africa and the Global South,” the MEA said.
It added that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends that “high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.” Recognizing the strategic partnership between Tanzania and India, the relationship of educational partnership has been formalized by signing. document which provides the parties with a framework to detail the establishment of the proposed campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar-Tanzania, with plans to commence the program in October 2023,” the MEA said.
It added that the “unique partnership” will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IIT Madras to a prominent position in Africa and address the needs of the region. It added, “The academic programme, curriculum, student selection aspects and academic details will be undertaken by IIT Madras, while the capital and operational expenditure will be borne by the Government of Zanzibar-Tanzania.”
IIT Madras degrees will be awarded to students enrolled in this campus. “The cutting-edge interdisciplinary degrees are expected to attract a diverse group and will include students from Africa and other countries. Indian students are also eligible to apply for these programmes,” the MEA said. It added, “The establishment of the IIT campus will also enhance India’s prestige globally and its diplomatic relations and expand the international footprint of IIT Madras.”