IIT Madras, one of India’s prestigious technical institutes, has made history by opening its first international campus in Zanzibar. This move marks a significant milestone for the institution, making it the first IIT in India to establish an international campus. The campus was inaugurated virtually on November 6 by Professor V Kamakoti, the Director of IIT Madras. During the inauguration, Kamakoti revealed that the campus would comprise 50 percent Indian students and the remaining students from various African countries.
The IIT Madras Zanzibar campus aims to provide quality education in the field of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The faculty for the campus has been recruited from all around the world to ensure a diverse and comprehensive learning experience for the students. The campus is designed to accommodate approximately 45-50 students, with a majority of them enrolling in undergraduate programs.
Currently, the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus offers a four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Data Science and AI, as well as a two-year Master of Technology degree in the same field. The undergraduate course fee has been set at around $12,000 per year. However, the institute plans to introduce five more programs in the next five years, expanding the range of educational opportunities for students.
In addition to the core programs, students at the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus will have the opportunity to explore partnerships with institutions in Australia and the United Kingdom through IIT Madras’ existing collaborations. This international exposure will further enhance the students’ educational journey and open doors to global opportunities.
The expansion of IIT Madras into Zanzibar is the result of an agreement signed between India’s Ministry of Education and Zanzibar-Tanzania’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. The agreement was witnessed by Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on July 5.
This historic move by IIT Madras highlights its commitment to providing top-quality education beyond India’s borders. Moreover, it reflects the institute’s mission to nurture talent in the field of Data Science and AI, addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in these domains.
It is worth mentioning that earlier this year, Dr. Preeti Aghalayam was announced as the first woman Director to lead an Indian Institute of Technology campus, adding another milestone to IIT Madras’ legacy.
In related news, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently announced that IIT Delhi will start offering its Master’s programs from its Abu Dhabi campus starting in January 2024. This is part of India’s efforts to establish a global presence and provide quality education to international students.
