New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday notified that the Indian Institute of Technology’s first-ever campus outside India will be set up in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed in the presence of External Affairs Minsiter S Jaishankar and Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi on Wednesday.
An agreement was signed to set up a campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar, an archipelago situated off the East African coast and part of Tanzania.
S.Jaishnakar, Minister of External Affairs is on his 4-day visit to Tanzania.
“The first IIT campus to be set up outside India will be in Zanzibar,” the MEA said. It further stated that MoU was signed between India’s education ministry, IIT Madrass and Zanzibar’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.
“This campus is reflective of the longstanding friendship between India and Tanzania and a reminder of the focus India places on building people to people ties across Africa and the Global South,” the MEA stated in a press release.
Witnessed the signing of the agreement on setting up of @iitmadras Zanzibar campus.
Appreciate President @DrHmwinyi gracing the occasion, as also the presence of his Ministers.
This historic step reflects India’s commitment to the Global South. pic.twitter.com/X3vdnICnSE
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) July 5, 2023
Furthermore, it stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates that “high performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries”.
The IIT Madra campus in Zanzibar will be commencing its operations in October 2023. At the initial stage, it will start off with 50 undergraduate students and 20 master’s students.