India’s educational outreach takes a momentous leap as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The agreement, inked in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, signifies the first-ever IIT campus set up outside of India. The MoU, signed between India’s education ministry, IIT Madras, and Zanzibar’s ministry of education and vocational training, solidifies the collaborative efforts between the two nations. This milestone reflects the enduring friendship between India and Tanzania, emphasizing India’s commitment to fostering people-to-people ties across Africa and the Global South.
The establishment of the IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar serves as a testament to the strategic partnership between Tanzania and India, enhancing the educational collaboration between the two countries. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages high-performing Indian universities to set up campuses abroad, this initiative aims to strengthen academic ties and promote knowledge exchange.
The proposed campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar, scheduled to launch programs in October 2023, represents a significant step forward in providing world-class technical education opportunities to students in Tanzania and the East African region. The partnership between the two countries in formalizing this educational collaboration demonstrates the shared vision of empowering the youth and promoting academic excellence.
The IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar not only signifies India’s commitment to expanding educational horizons but also highlights the importance of building strong educational partnerships with African nations. It underlines the emphasis placed on knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, showcasing the significance India attaches to fostering human capital development in Africa and the Global South.
This pioneering endeavor holds the promise of empowering students, promoting innovation, and fostering cultural exchange. As the framework for the campus is detailed, both India and Tanzania anticipate a bright future of collaboration, academic growth, and people-to-people connections.
