The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, it was announced that Tanzania’s Zanzibar will soon witness the establishment of the first-ever IIT campus outside of India. Zanzibar, an archipelago located off the East African coast, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Madras to pave the way for this significant development.
The MoU, signed in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi during Jaishankar’s visit to Tanzania, solidifies the agreement between India’s education ministry, IIT Madras, and Zanzibar’s ministry of education and vocational training. This historic collaboration underscores the enduring friendship between India and Tanzania while highlighting India’s commitment to fostering people-to-people connections across Africa and the Global South.
The MEA emphasizes that the establishment of the IIT campus in Zanzibar holds paramount importance, as it symbolizes the deep-rooted bond between the two nations. Furthermore, it exemplifies India’s dedication to nurturing educational ties and extends the reach of its esteemed educational institutions. This transformative step aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages highly regarded Indian universities to expand their horizons and establish campuses in other countries.
The formalization of this educational partnership between Tanzania and India is a testament to their strategic alliance. By signing this significant document, both parties have laid the groundwork for the establishment of the proposed IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar-Tanzania. The envisaged launch of programs in October 2023 demonstrates the commitment to this collaborative effort and sets the stage for a new era of educational exchange.
“Recognising the strategic partnership between Tanzania and India, the relationship of educational partnership has been formalised by signing the document which provides the framework for the parties to detail out the setting up of the proposed campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar-Tanzania, with plans to launch programmes in October 2023,” the MEA said.