First Offshore IIT Campus To Be Set Up In Tanzania’s Zanzibar, To Be Operational From October 2023

Following a recently signed MoU, the IIT Madras will be the first IIT to set up an offshore campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The IIT Madras Zanzibar campus is said to be operational from October 2023.

IIT Madras To Set Up Offshore Campus In Zanzibar, Tanzania ( Image Source :https://acr.iitm.ac.in/ )

The first offshore IIT campus will be set up in Tanzania’s Zanzibar. IIT Madras will be the first IIT to set up a campus overseas. An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) has been signed between the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, IIT Madras and Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) Zanzibar- Tanzania on 5 July 2023. The MoU was also signed in the presence of Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India. 

In a tweet, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar termed the agreement as ‘historic,’ and one that showcases India’s commitment to the global south. “Witnessed the signing of the agreement on setting up of @iitmadras Zanzibar campus. This historic step reflects India’s commitment to the Global South,” Jaishankar wrote in his tweet. Notably, S Jaishankar is on a four-day visit to Tanzania to hold high-level talks and co-chair the 10th Joint Commission Meeting with his counterpart. 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release that the coming up of the IIT campus in Zanzibar reflected India's longstanding ties with Tanzania, and stresses upon India’s commitment upon building ties with Africa and the global south. The MoU agreement is also in line with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) which recommends encouraging high performing Indian Universities to set up campuses abroad, it added. 

Envisioned as a “World-Class” IIT Campus, the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus is said to be operational by October 2023. While the IIT Madras will be finalizing the academic programs, curriculum, students’ selection and pedagogical details, the operating and capital expenditure at the campus will be looked after by the government of Zanzibar-Tanzania. Students enrolled in the campus will be awarded IIT Madras degrees. 

What would serve as an example of the aspirations and excellence of Indian higher education, research, and innovation, the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus would deepen ties between the nations, and support research and innovation in the region. Besides enhancing India’s reputation, the IIT campus at Zanzibar would also expand India’s diplomatic relationships, as well as the global footprint of IIT Madras.