IIT Madras Zanzibar, the first ever international campus of an IIT was inaugurated by Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary IIT  Council,  on November 6  in the presence of Tanzanian and Indian dignitaries, faculty and students. 

 

The  campus in Bweleo district, located  15 km south of Zanzibar town, is well equipped with  amenities to serve the first batch of students hailing  from Zanzibar, Tanzania, Nepal and India.

 

This historic initiative is part of the Indian  Government’s endeavour under NEP 2020 to encourage opportunities for top quality Indian higher education in international arenas.

 

Women comprise 40 per cent of the total students enrolled for the four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and a two-year Master of Technology degree in Data Science and AI.

 

More academic programs will be offered at a permanent campus to be built soon jointly by the Government of Zanzibar and the Government of India, a press release received here said.

 

The Bweleo campus was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. Adolf F. Mkenda, Minister of Education Science and Technology United Republic of Tanzania,  Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, India High Commissioner of The United Republic of Tanzania, Lela Mohamed Mussa, Minister of Education and Vocational Training-Zanzibar, Prof. M S Ananth and Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, former Directors of IIT Madras, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of School of Engineering and Science, and Director-in-charge, Zanzibar campus, IIT Madras, among  others.

 

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, witnessed the inauguration through a live stream at the IIT Madras Chennai Campus.The press note quoted him as saying, “We embark on a journey of knowledge and innovation that transcends borders. Together, we will nurture excellence, foster collaboration and inspire generations to dream beyond horizons.”

 

Addressing the audience at the Zanzibar campus, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of School of Engineering and Science and Director-in-charge, Zanzibar campus, IIT Madras, said, “It has been an honour to bring IITM’s academic excellence to the beautiful island of Zanzibar with a lovely campus and amazing students. We are grateful to President Mwinyi for the faith reposed in us, and look forward to scaling great heights at IITM Zanzibar.”

 

Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras, said “We will strive to make this one of the pre-eminent institutions in the African region.”

 

Sharing her experience as part of the first batch of students in the Institution,  Ahlam Said Salim, a Bachelor of Science student in Zanzibar, said, “I see myself among the luckiest people in this institute which has great facilities provide knowledge.”

 

It is important to note that the Government of India is offering numerous scholarships for  Tanzanian/Zanzibar students for various degree programs at IIT Madras

which has more than 600 faculty and 9,500 students from 18 countries. 

 

The Zanzibar campus will leverage IITM’s  17 academic departments and advanced interdisciplinary research academic centres.